Iain Lauchlan News

Dame Sarah the Cook is on the hunt for husbands, brothers, male bosses, and male friends over the age of 18 in Coventry this Christmas to take part in the Belgrade Theatre pantomime Dick Whittington.

The full cast and creative team have been announced for this year's family favourite panto Dick Whittington, written by and starring by the award-winning Iain Lauchlan. Dick Whittington will play from Wednesday 20 November until Saturday 4 January 2025, with a press night on Friday 22 November at 7pm. 

Get the latest on The Pantomime Awards 2024 nominees, announced by The UK Pantomime Association in association with Stagecoach. The awards ceremony is set for Tuesday 18 June 2024 at 7pm at G Live in Guildford.

Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre's rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future.

Casting is complete for Imagine Theatre's biggest panto season with an all-star line-up getting ready to bring 18 magical family pantomimes to audiences across England, Wales and Scotland.

The Belgrade Theatre announces casting for Jack and the Beanstalk. This year, the Belgrade Theatre's legendary annual pantomime is back with a GIANT of a show, as Jack and the Beanstalk takes to the Main Stage from Weds 23 Nov – Sat 7 Jan.

Fun for all of the family begins at the end of November with Beauty and the Beast, the Belgrade’s legendary pantomime. Through December, the B2 auditorium will play host to Santa’s Magical Mystery Guest, the perfect treat for little ones, and A Christmas Carol starring acclaimed actor David Bradley.

The Belgrade Theatre has announced casting for this year's panto – Beauty and the Beast. Running from Weds 24 Nov – Sat 8 Jan, the legendary pantomime will once again be led by Iain Lauchlan as Dame Dolly Mixture and Craig Hollingsworth as the Dame's comedic sidekick, Silly Billy.

Although Coventry will remain under Tier 3 restrictions until the end of the month, the news isn't dampening festive spirits at the Belgrade Theatre, with its Christmas shows and events set to go online instead.

The team behind Belgrade Theatre Coventry’s panto has shown that it is still possible to spread Christmas cheer via the means of modern technology, with their 2020 production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

While the Belgrade's annual panto is going online this year, if a trip to the theatre is part of your family's annual festive traditions, you needn't miss out this year thanks to a series of socially distanced shows and screenings taking place throughout the month. 

Following the sell-out success of performances of Dr Blood's Old Travelling Show this October, audiences can now look forward to a wide range of live experiences at the Belgrade Theatre, with socially distanced shows taking place throughout November and December. 

Belgrade Film and Digital presents its first ever online panto with a new take on Jack and the Beanstalk.

Following the recent announcement of its Autumn 2020 Season, the Belgrade Theatre has now launched an online programme of activity to inspire and entertain its audiences during the lockdown period. 

Santa Claus is back in town this Christmas with Imagine Theatre's festive family show Santa's Dizzy Day returning to the Belgrade Theatre. Last staged at the Belgrade in 2014, this interactive, song-filled production offers little ones an ideal introduction to the magic of live theatre.

Festive fare might not be on the menu many places yet this year, but with only a month to go until Puss in Boots opens at the Belgrade Theatre, Birmingham's Kitty Café has been serving Christmas Puddings early thanks to a special visit from the stars of this year's panto.

Following the success of its first ever relaxed panto performance last Christmas, the Belgrade Theatre is thrilled to be hosting a relaxed showing of this year's pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, at 2pm on Thursday 3 January.

Coventry kids had better watch out this Christmas, because Santa Claus is heading back to the Belgrade this year in another exciting adventure from Imagine Theatre.

With just 71 sleeps to go until Christmas, it's time to set your alarm and get ready for the nation's dreamiest panto as Sleeping Beauty heads to Coventry this Christmas.

Calling all poets! As part of its 60th birthday celebrations this year, the Belgrade Theatre is launching a one-off poetry competition, with the winning entry to be featured as part of its forthcoming Diamond Anniversary Gala today 15 September.