He has made history at the Lyceum, clocking up more than 1,000 performances as resident panto dame – but Damian Williams is already looking ahead to next year.

“As always, Damian Williams delivered the comedy and got the most laughs”, read the Northern Arts Review, of his performance as Dame Dolly in Aladdin this year – adding “It wouldn’t be the Sheffield pantomime without him”.

"Like a psychedelic Les Dawson” said the Sheffield Star, describing Williams arriving late on stage in a purple sedan chair with towering blue hair.

Since Damian was 15 – he’s now 54 – the festive season has always been panto, with Christmas Day his only day off when he drives home to Southend to spend the day with his family.

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre pantomime dame'¯Damian Williams'¯has just made his'¯1000th performance. Since his first appearance in 2008,'¯Damian'¯has been delighting audiences with his hilarious antics in the Lyceum's spectacular seasonal shows over the years, and this Christmas he stars as Dame Dolly in'¯Aladdin which is now open at the Lyceum. Picture: James Hardisty. Date: 23rd December 2025.

placeholder image — Sheffield Lyceum Theatre pantomime dame'¯Damian Williams'¯has just made his'¯1000th performance. Since his first appearance in 2008,'¯Damian'¯has been delighting audiences with his hilarious antics in the Lyceum's spectacular seasonal shows over the years, and this Christmas he stars as Dame Dolly in'¯Aladdin which is now open at the Lyceum. Picture: James Hardisty. Date: 23rd December 2025.

He says he plays his role in a “very old school” way, as a “bloke in a dress” following in the footsteps of heroes, Terry Scott, famous for the BBC 80s sitcom Terry and June, Billy Dainty and George Lacey.

Now in his 18th year, he’s already booked in at the Lyceum for his 19th and 20th season.

His first appearance in Sheffield back in 2008 happened to also be Aladdin. In the trad version, Widow Twankey, runs a laundry in Old Peking.

"There was stuff you couldn’t really get away with now. Some of it is deemed offensive.

"Names are changed – I run a joke shop now.”

While scripts have been rewritten, the rapport between him and his audience remains unchanged.

In his changing room he can hear the buzz crackling through the speakers before he goes on.

“Having done 18 years they are waiting for me to come on. I don’t have to warm them up. They book their seats as soon as they leave.

2015 - Alex Winters, Damian Williams and Jonatahan Halliwell in Aladdin at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield. Cred Robert Day.jpg

"Cinderella – next year’s panto – went on sale and they were queuing round the back of the Crucible.

"Christmas Eve next year is almost sold out. You are always trying to top (your performance).

"I’m thinking – this is great, what can I do next year?”

The father of twins slaps on his make up in ten minutes, blobs of blue and white on the eyelids, red Cupid’s lips and cherry cheeks.

His wigs are rather more elaborate – this year he has eight changes, with a peacock balanced on top of his bonce in the finale.

Panto is a great British institution which has never been successfully transplanted anywhere else.

A recent BBC survey asked theatres in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire what they earned from panto during festive season – the 16 that responded said it made between between 9% and 45% of their annual income in 2024.

Damian said: "They tried it in America, but they just didn’t get it or understand it. It’s that British sense of humour. It’s bonkers.”

Aladdin plays at Lyceum Theatre until Sunday January 4.