Chipping Norton Pantomime

Every winter The Theatre in Chipping Norton makes its own pantomime, with an original script and music, and has done for decades. This season's is The Snow Queen, written by Toby Hulse, directed by Caroline Leslie, with music by Paul Herbert. It runs from Wednesday 18 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027 and lasts 2 hours 20 minutes. Last year's was Beauty and the Beast, from 19 November 2025 to 18 January 2026. The title and dates for next winter have not been announced.

Which performance to book

There are usually two a day, at times that change through the run, so read the theatre's schedule (opens in a new tab) before you pick. Previews are at 6pm on 18 and 19 November. There are no shows on 22, 23 and 30 November, on 7, 14, 18 and 25 December, or on 1, 4 and 11 January. The 6pm shows on 22 and 29 December include a stage tour.

Prices include booking fees and go by three bands: off-peak £18 to £30, standard £26 to £38 and peak £34 to £46. Peak covers every performance from 19 December to 3 January and most December weekends, so those go first. Off-peak is mostly weekday daytimes in term. Concessions apply on standard and off-peak for under 16s, students and some others, and a group of 15 pays for 14, except at peak. Book online or on 01608 642350.

Four adult-only performances, for 18 and over, are on Friday 4 December at 6pm, Friday 11 December at 7pm, and Fridays 8 and 15 January at 7pm.

Who it suits

The theatre gives the age range as 4 to 104, and it plays this as a traditional family show on a small stage. It is a full 2 hours 20 minutes, so think about bedtimes before choosing a 6pm or 7pm start with younger children. The Telegraph called it 'the perfect antidote to commercial panto', in a line the theatre quotes.

Access

Relaxed performances, with adjusted lighting and sound, are on Friday 27 November at 11am and Thursday 10 December at 4pm. The captioned performance is on Saturday 5 December at 2pm, and the audio-described one on Saturday 28 November at 2pm, with a touch tour at 1pm. The theatre also publishes a visual story. Outside the entrance there are double yellow lines, but you can drop someone off and see them in. The nearest disabled bays are in the town centre car park outside Jaffé & Neal, with six more in the New Street car park, a five minute walk away. The accessible toilet is through the bar.

Getting there and parking

Chipping Norton's two main car parks were free in 2026: New Street (OX7 5LJ) and Albion Street (OX7 5BN), both for up to 12 hours. Stagecoach's 488 and 489 run from Banbury through Hook Norton, about hourly in the day, but when we checked the last bus back to Banbury left the Town Hall at 6.55pm on weekdays and 6.45pm on Saturdays, so an evening show means driving or a taxi. Kingham is the nearest station, about 5 miles away.