There’s something magical about heading to the theatre as a family, especially when it marks the unofficial start of Christmas for the Palmers. Dick Whittington at St Helens Theatre Royal did exactly that — wrapped us in festive excitement, delivered proper laugh-out-loud moments, and reminded us why we come back every year.
And this year, they’ve levelled up in a big way. With a brand-new 3D experience in the second half (yes, 3D glasses included!), upgraded lighting, staging, and backdrops, St Helens Theatre Royal has clearly invested heavily — and it absolutely shows. The audience reaction said it all… especially the kids who were screaming in the best possible way. Pure panto magic.
Our Family Night Out
This performance was extra special because it was Thomas’s first ever panto. Normally, getting a little one to sit still for more than 10 minutes is a challenge — but he almost watched the entire show. That’s how captivating it was.
But the star of our evening was Dorothy, now 9, who was completely absorbed from start to finish. Leaning forward, joining in with every “Oh no he didn’t!”, laughing at the jokes… seeing her so hooked on live theatre was a memory in itself.
Mrs P and I loved it too. The humour was spot on — enough silliness to send the kids into fits of giggles, with a few clever lines for the adults. The cast delivered high energy from start to finish.
Meet the Cast
The cast this year are brilliant, including:
- Ashley Luke-Lloyd as Dick Whittington
- Timothy Lucas returning with his classic humour and stage presence
- Abigail Middleton bringing charm and warmth as Alice
- Hannah Riley delivering fantastic comedic moments
- Resident Dame Si Foster providing the iconic panto energy we all love
The entire cast worked beautifully together, bringing the story to life with big characters, big laughs, and plenty of heart.
The 3D Experience
I won’t spoil anything — because honestly, it’s worth experiencing fresh — but the second half’s 3D section was a massive highlight. Watching the whole audience put their glasses on together set the tone, and the kids’ reactions were priceless:
Screaming. Laughing. Hiding-behind-the-glasses screaming.
All family-friendly, all brilliant fun. It’s bold, clever, and a huge win for the Theatre Royal team.
Show Dates
Dick Whittington runs from 2nd December 2025 to 11th January 2026
at St Helens Theatre Royal.
Book Tickets
Tickets are already selling quickly — and after experiencing this year’s show, I can absolutely see why.
👉 Click here to buy tickets for Dick Whittington
Affordable, family-friendly, and well worth it for the experience.
Final Thoughts
This year’s Dick Whittington is everything a Christmas panto should be — funny, warm, magical, packed with energy, and with enough new surprises to keep even us grown-ups grinning.
The show looks stunning thanks to the theatre’s huge investment in staging and technology, the cast are brilliant, and that 3D twist? Worth the ticket on its own.
We left with two happy kids, two happy parents, and our holiday season officially underway.
Corporate Dad approved.