12 family theatre shows and pantos in and around Cardiff to book now for Christmas 2025

If you’re looking for a festive treat in the run up to Christmas, or maybe an early gift, then how about tickets to one of the many theatre productions showing in Cardiff and surrounding areas? From performances designed especially for pre-schoolers to big budget musicals and of course traditional panto, there’s plenty on offer this November and December. Clicking on the name of the show will take you to the relevant website for more information and booking details.

Let me know if you’ll be watching any of these.

Thanks as always for supporting Cardiff Mummy Says. Your likes, comments, saves and shares make such a different in helping my posts show up for other local parents.

Let me know if you’ll be booking tickets for any of these and don’t forget to follow Cardiff Mummy Says on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok where I share more adventures and days out ideas.

=

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Tuesday 18-Saturday 22 November

From £17, age guidance 8+ (no under 2s)

The Cornley Amateur Drama Society are back, ready to tackle the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol in this new production from Mischief, the multi award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. As the Cornley crew hilariously battle miscommunication, delays to their set, actors missing in action and a growing feud over who will play the lead, it’s sure to be a disastrous take on the much-loved classic Christmas story of Ebeneezer Scrooge.

. –

Christmas No 1

Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Thursday 20-Saturday 22 November

From £12, age guidance 5+

It’s Christmas 1985. The crème of the Welsh pop scene are gathering in a Tiger Bay warehouse to record the ultimate festive charity single. Mega-bands like Vaguely Electrical, Andreus Peter, and Dolly Cash are putting egos aside for a good cause — or so it seems…  But as the cameras roll and the mics go live, things start to go eerily wrong. Is it a simple technical glitch? A jealous ex-pop star? The spirit of Christmas past? Or something far more sinister? 

Featuring original music and a supernatural twist, Christmas No. 1 is a brand-new musical comedy from the award-winning Gagglebabble, devised with Hijinx Odyssey, and .featuring a large cast of disabled and non-disabled performers.

–

The Frog Prince / Biwti a Brogs

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Monday 24 November-Saturday 3 January (previews Friday 31 October-Sat 1 November, before it heads on tour)

£9.50 per person, age guidance 3-6 year olds

The Frog Prince / Biwti a Brogs, Gwawr Loader’s delightful reimagining of the classic Brothers Grimm story, is the Sheman’s annual theatre show for three to six year olds, with separate English and Welsh productions. When daughter of the king, Biwti, bumps into Brogs, a cheeky frog, she begins to learn that there are many different types of perfect and what the secret to happiness really is. Filled with songs, laughter and fun, this charming show is performed in an informal setting, making it the ideal introduction to the live theatre.

–

Rapunzel

Riverfront, Newport

Thursday 27 November-Sunday 4 January

From adults £30.75 and children £28.75

The Riverfront’s first ever production of Rapunzel weaves together magic and mischief as wicked sorceress Ceridwen casts a dark spell over Newport and traps Rapunzel in a tower deep in the Welsh forest. On the eve of her 21st birthday, Rapunzel meets Hector, sets about her escape and the adventure begins. Can the spell be broken before time runs out, or will Ceridwen claim the royal throne and rule Newport forever?

=

Alice: Return to Wonderland

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Friday 28 November-Saturday 3 January

Adults £16-£32, under 25s half price

Age guidance 7+

Sherman Christmas regular Hannah McPake writes and directs this re-imagining of the Lewis Carroll tale, a new adventure set in 1947, journeying from the bombed out streets in post-war Cardiff and into Wonderland. The show is set on Cardiff, Christmas Eve 1947 where, years after her first visit to Wonderland, grown-up Alice is now a town planner working for the City of Cardiff. Just as she prepares for work on her latest building project to begin, she is interrupted by the sudden arrival of an old, fluffy friend. Soon Alice will have leave Cardiff behind and return to Wonderland in a race against time to save her daughter Carys from the clutches of the evil Red Queen.

=

Mary Poppins

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Wednesday 3 December-Saturday 10 January

From £20, age guidance 7+ (no under 2s)

Mary Poppins is Wales Millennium Centre big show for the Christmas season, with Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular production of the classic multi award-winning musical flying into Cardiff for six weeks only. Based on the stories of PL Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the world’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs including Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

–

Sleeping Beauty

Blackwood Miners’ Institute

Friday 5-Tuesday 30 December

From £23-£78

Welsh broadcasting favourite Owen Money is back as director in this brand-new pantomime from Rainbow Valley Productions, Sleeping Beauty. Join the magical adventure starring Julian Lewis Jones (Stella, The Guest). Abble Lee, Katie Mittell for laughter, music and fairytale fun.

–

Jack Frost: A Magical Christmas Musical

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Saturday 6- Sunday 29 December

Adults from £29 and children from £19.50

Following the success of last year’s Snow Queen, Cardiff Christmas Festival bring this celebration of winter magic, friendship and festive cheer to the stage of the beautiful Spiegel Theatre. This heart-warming Christmas musical is bursting with toe-tapping music, dazzling dance routines, and laugh-out-loud comedy as Jack Frost – along with favourites from last year Bryn the dancing Polar Bear, and the plucky gangster penguins – as he sets out to save Christmas in the most spectacular way possible.

Cardiff Christmas Festival also features a number of music tribute acts and West End/operatic performances. See the website for more.

–

Sleeping Beauty

New Theatre, Cardiff

Saturday 6 December-Sunday 4 January

£21-£52

TV presenter Gethin Jones as Prince Gethin, broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans as the Spirit of Pantomime, and Cardiff’s much-loved panto dame Mike Doyle as Nurse Nellie reunite for this year’s New Theatre panto. They will be joined by returning stars Jack Ryan and Jalisa Phoenix-Roberts as Muddles and Carabosse, and Welsh musical theatre star Emma Kirk as Princess Aurora. Princess Aurora pricks her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel and a curse forces her to sleep for 100 years. Can true love survive and Prince Gethin break the spell? Who will outwit the evil Carabosse and foil her wicked plans?  All will be revealed in this spectacular panto packed with magic, music, comedy and special effects. 

–

Peter Pan

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

Thursday 11-Sunday 14 December

From adults £16, children £14

Barry’s Billboard Ensemble present their annual Christmas pantomime, Peter Pan, the tale of the boy who never grew up, based on the famous play by J.M Barrie. Join Peter, Wendy and all the gang in this rip roaring, squash buckling tale full of songs, dance and pixie magic.

–

Scrooge: A Cirque Spectacular

ICC Wales, Newport

Friday 12 December-Saturday 3 January

From £25, age guidance 4+

Step into the enchanting world of A Christmas Carol like never before – with festive magic, laughter and a touch of circus wonder. Charles Dickens himself brings his beloved tale to life, guiding audiences through the heartwarming journey of the reluctant Ebenezer Scrooge. Watch as Scrooge discovers the true spirit of Christmas in this delightful fusion of Victorian pantomime and cirque artistry featuring acrobatics, lively musical numbers and stunning costumes.

–

Aladdin

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff

Saturday 20-Monday 22 December   

£14-£16

Local young performers from Kinetic Theatre present their annual pantomime, Aladdin. Abanazar, an evil magician, has discovered the secret to becoming Master of the Universe. All he needs is an enchanted oil lamp hidden away for many years in a lost cave of treasures but only the ‘chosen one’ is allowed to set foot inside. Meanwhile in the distant land of Shangri-La, young dreams of marrying the beautiful Princess Jasmine. Could a penniless laundry boy be the chosen one?