Every Christmas time in theatres across Yorkshire, you’ll see the same thing before curtain-up: excited families finding their seats, small children dressed as their favourite characters, indifferent teenagers scrolling on their phones. Then the lights go down and something extraordinary happens.

I’ve seen it so many times. The teenager is now shouting, “It’s behind you,” along with everyone else. The grandparent who has seen dozens of pantos is laughing as much as the person who’s there for the first time. In that moment, everyone is equal, everyone is in on the joke, and everyone belongs.

This is the power of pantomime and the Christmas show, and it’s why Arts Council England supports a whole set of theatres and arts organisations across Yorkshire to put on performances that take us beyond ourselves and make us feel happier.

In the UK, three million of us go to a pantomime each year. I was lucky enough to go as a child, and I still try to see as many as I can. I love the slapstick, the singing and dancing, and the sharp writing that creates layers of meaning that speak to different parts of the audience.

Panto season is here - and plays a vital role in supporting the finances of Yorkshire theatres

placeholder image — Panto season is here - and plays a vital role in supporting the finances of Yorkshire theatres

Although steeped in tradition and timeless stories, pantomime also offers us a contemporary take on the world. It’s a more sophisticated artform than many people give it credit for, and that’s down to the brilliance of the actors, musicians, directors, writers, set and costume designers, who make it feel fresh every year.

The theatre scene in Yorkshire and the Humber is remarkable, with major theatres in Sheffield, Leeds, York, Scarborough, Doncaster, Huddersfield and Hull all producing Christmas shows, as well as historic gems like the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond.

The festive menu stretches from shows in village halls to Northern Ballet’s Nutcracker, and in Bradford, as it closes its memorable year as UK City of Culture, panto legend Billy Pearce will perform his 25th season at the Alhambra.

For many children, going to a Christmas show with school marks their first visit to a theatre. It can open them up to possibilities beyond the world they normally inhabit, and it can spark the idea of a career on stage or behind the scenes.

Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings performed in Leeds Playhouse’s The Enormous Crocodile in 2023 as a member of its Youth Theatre. His subsequent career has included productions for the National Theatre and Netflix. For Lawrence, one of the reasons he loves his job is ‘seeing kids that look and sound like me coming to the theatre for the first time and loving the experience’.

At Lawrence Batley Theatre, Kayla used to watch the panto with her family. In memory of her father, she auditioned for the youth chorus, performed during panto season and joined the youth theatre the following year. As Kayla and Lawrence demonstrate, festive shows act as a talent pipeline that can lead to creative careers in our world-class cultural sector.

Yorkshire’s theatres are genuinely inclusive, offering dementia-friendly and relaxed performances with gentler lighting and sound, or performances with creatively integrated sign language. Hull Truck has a ‘pay what you can’ scheme, and York Theatre Royal’s ‘pay it forward’ tickets fund free places in the auditorium.

This is what Christmas shows are all about: creating community and belonging. The audience is as integral to the shows as the cast, and this collective experience reminds us we’re part of something bigger together.

There’s a strong economic case too. Research from UK Theatre found that £1.40 is generated in the local economy for every £1 spent on a theatre ticket. This economic benefit can spread even wider. The Leeds Playhouse production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has toured to the West End and nationally following its Leeds debut.

Festive programmes generate significant ticket sales. Last year, pantomime accounted for 28 per cent of York Theatre Royal’s annual income and about a third for Lawrence Batley Theatre. This money supports theatres in developing new ideas and programming more experimental work throughout the year.

But there’s one thing that’s more important than anything else. Having fun helps us to live happier lives. When you step out of a theatre into the cold winter air, you’re surrounded by people smiling and laughing. And you carry that joy and optimism with you.

If you’ve never been to a panto, make this your year. If it is already your tradition, bring someone new this year and spread some of the magic.

Darren Henley is Chief Executive of Arts Council England