Barrow Town Hall is set to be transformed into a fairy tale castle complete with fair maidens, brave knights and fierce dragons, this Christmas!
Charming Entertainment, the theatre company behind Barrow Panto, have announced they will be bringing the classic fairy story Sleeping Beauty to the Town Hall for a three-week run from 9 December to 2 January 2027.
The Barrow Panto was a much-loved feature of the Christmas season at the Forum for many years but following the closure of the venue in May 2025, last December they took their annual festive family treat to the Chetwynde School.
However, the team were keen to return to a town centre location so jumped at the chance to perform this year’s show at the Town Hall which has equipped its Banqueting Room with a full theatre set-up including professional staging, lighting and sound system.
Artistic Director Joe Purdy said: “We really wanted to bring the Panto back to a town centre venue to be part of the amazing Christmas buzz and to enable as many people as possible to be able to come and see it. We jumped at the chance to use the Town Hall which with its incredible, historic architecture is in many ways the perfect location for a story like Sleeping Beauty.”
The team have given the story their usual, unique twist with lots of singing, dancing and laughs. The cast also features many of the hugely popular actors from previous shows such as the outrageously funny Dame Tyler Marlow and local performers Julie Edwards, Emily Dodd, Ryan Grainger and Steve Low.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cultural Venues and Programming Manager Joanne Marwood said: “We are so excited about welcoming the Barrow Panto back. It was always such a vital aspect of the Forum’s programme and a huge part of the Christmas tradition of tens of thousands of people in our local community.”
“We will be making the most of Town Hall’s amazing ‘castle-like’ atmosphere and can’t wait to add a real touch of magic to the town centre this Christmas!”
Tickets sales for the show will go live at the Town Hall box office and website at 12pm on Saturday 9 May which will coincide with a special launch event at which families can meet characters from the show and take part in special Sleeping Beauty-themed arts and crafts.
