Pantomime at DEMBE Theatre

For a great many people in Tring, pantomime is the one time in the year they come to the theatre, and for a good number of children it is the first time they come anywhere near a stage. We take that seriously. A pantomime is somebody's introduction to the whole art form, and if it is done well they spend the next fifty years coming back.

What to expect from a panto here

All of it. The dame, the double act, the villain entering stage left to a chorus of boos, the song sheet, the slosh scene, the jokes pitched over the children's heads at the adults and the ones pitched squarely at the children while the adults groan. Audience participation is not optional and not polite. Shouting is actively encouraged, and in a room this size the shouting is loud.

Pantomimes here are generally staged in the run-up to Christmas and into the new year, with a mix of evening performances and weekend and holiday matinees. Casts are usually large, which means that if you live locally there is a strong chance you know somebody in it. That is part of the pleasure.

What age is pantomime suitable for?

It is the most forgiving theatre there is for a young audience, and the usual sweet spot runs from about three or four up to nine or ten. Younger than that and the volume and the dark can be a lot, though a matinee is much easier than an evening for a very small child. Older than that and some children decide they are too cool for it, right up until the song sheet, at which point they are not.

Practical advice from years of panto audiences. Book a matinee for pre-schoolers. Sit near an aisle if you think you may need to make a quick exit. Expect an interval, and expect to be asked for an ice cream during it. And be aware that the front rows are where the cast looks when they need a volunteer.

Each production page gives the running time and any specific guidance. If you are unsure whether a particular panto suits a particular child, ask us.

Schools, groups and parties

Pantomime is the easiest show of the year to bring a group to, and schools, nurseries, scout and guide groups, care homes and extended families all do. If you want a block of seats together, book early: panto sells faster than anything else we stage and the good blocks go first. For larger parties, or if you have specific seating needs such as keeping a group together near an exit, get in touch rather than booking seat by seat online.

Why pantomime matters to this theatre

Beyond being enormous fun, panto does real work for us. It reaches an audience that does not otherwise come, it gives a large local cast and crew a proper production to be part of, and it sells well enough to support the rest of the year. The theatre vision sets out an ambition to be sustainable, moving from depending on one individual's funding to standing on our own, and a well-attended Christmas run is a meaningful part of that.

It is educational too, which is the fourth of our four endeavours. A panto cast and crew of that size, often including young people working alongside experienced performers and technicians, is one of the best training grounds there is in confidence, timing and working as a team under pressure. Every ticket also carries a DEMBE Theatre Restoration Fee, which goes back into the building itself.

Tickets, access and getting here

Book through this site; each pantomime has its own page with all dates, prices and a seating plan. Concessions are usually available for children aged fifteen and under, full-time students, over sixties, and registered disabled patrons with their carers, subject to proof and one concession per person per transaction. Check the production page, as terms vary.

We are at Penny Royal Court, Station Road, Tring, HP23 5QY. Parking is free on site, which matters when you are unloading three children and a pushchair. There is a bus stop directly outside on Station Road, and Tring station is a short walk away on the London Euston line, about thirty-five minutes from town if grandparents are coming out for the day. Wheelchair spaces are available in the auditorium, and we will happily help with any access requirement if you contact us before you book.

This year, and previous years

Below you will find any pantomime currently on sale, followed by previous years' productions. We keep those listed deliberately, so you can look back and see what was staged and when.