Watford Palace Theatre Announces A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime This Festive Season

A classic Christmas story is getting a very different makeover this festive season, with a brand-new pantomime bringing one of literature’s grumpiest characters to the stage.

A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime will run at Watford Palace Theatre from 29 November 2026 until 3 January 2027, offering a fun new take on Charles Dickens’ much-loved story.

Written by Steve Marmion and directed by James Williams, the production will combine traditional pantomime fun with popular songs and plenty of audience participation.

Michael Lambourne will star as Ebenezer Scrooge, while Terence Frisch returns as Dame Dilber for his fourteenth Watford pantomime. This time, Dame Dilber will take on all the Ghosts of Christmas, guiding Scrooge through his past and showing him what his future could hold.

The cast also includes Anna Tolputt as Bob Scratchit and Philippa Carson as Boz Scratchit. Nikita Johal will play several characters, including Freda Scrooge, while Lakesha Cammock returns to Watford Palace Theatre as JakeBob Marley.

In this new version, Scrooge is the grumpiest person in Watford, and it falls to Dame Dilber to help him discover the true meaning of Christmas. With familiar characters getting a pantomime twist, we can expect a very different journey through the festive season.

Tickets are already on sale, with all seats priced at £20 when booked by 31 October. From 1 November, the price rises to £25, with the same ticket price applying to every seat in the theatre.