Barrow Panto returns to the town centre with Sleeping Beauty

Barrow Panto has announced its return to Barrow Town Hall for this year’s Christmas pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Following the closure of The Forum, the Town Hall has been transformed into a unique performance space, with the Banqueting Hall now equipped with a full theatre set-up, including professional staging, lighting and sound systems. This new venue is set against the stunning architecture of the Town Hall and offers a unique experience for theatre goers. The setting is expected to provide the perfect backdrop for the story of Sleeping Beauty.

Artistic Director Joe Purdy said: “We really wanted to bring the panto back to a town centre venue to be part of the amazing Christmas buzz and to enable as many people as possible to come and see it. We jumped at the chance to use the Town Hall which, with its incredible historic architecture, is in many ways the perfect location for a story like Sleeping Beauty.”

The cast features an array of returning professional actors, including Tyler Marlow as Dame Tina, Julie Edwards as The Fairy, Steve Low as Carabosse, Ryan Grainger as Prince and Emily Dodd as Aurora (Sleeping Beauty).

With the return to the town centre comes the return of the production’s popular school performances, offering students the opportunity to experience the magic of a Christmas pantomime. Shows have also been expanded to include a relaxed performance, as well as a special adults-only night on 2nd January 2027.

The pantomime’s return to the town centre has already created a buzz, with adults and children flocking to the Town Hall’s launch event in May to meet characters from the show as tickets went on sale.

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cultural Venues and Programming Manager, Joanne Marwood, said: “We are so excited about welcoming the Barrow Panto back. It was always such a vital aspect of The Forum’s programme and a huge part of the Christmas tradition for tens of thousands of people in our local community.”

Tickets are now available from the Town Hall box office and via its website. Follow @barrowpantomime on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for updates.