You are never too old for a classic Christmas panto

It is that time of year again when panto season is almost upon us – “oh no, it isn’t”, I hear you cry! As we are now into October, it is certainly time to start planning this year’s panto trip. This annual tradition has been enjoyed by Scottish families for many decades and continues to be an important and lookedforward-to part of winter.

Attending a pantomime is simply a must at this time of year – oh yes it is! – and it is something that is regarded as a very British past-time.

From Cinderella and Snow White to Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk, pantos are hugely popular and show no sign of waning. In this country, we are firm panto fans, but did you know the very first pantos were actually performed in Italy and date back to the 16th Century?

Whether you have young children in the family, or not, you are never too old for a good old fashioned pantomime! And there are plenty of amateur and professional productions happening in your home town or in a city near you this season to keep you and your family entertained. Some manage to attract big names from the world of television while others star comedy’s favourite panto stars.

Also, keep a look out for other festive-themed shows like a choral performance, sing-along event or Christmas concert (some of them by candlelight). You could even head to a theatre a bit further afield for a show as you dine local, eat local and make a day of it? Wherever you decide to go, make sure you book your tickets soon and pantos are a great way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.