Families searching for a traditional Christmas pantomime in Kendal will have to look elsewhere in 2026, with no panto currently listed in the town. Instead, four short family productions are scheduled in Kendal and nearby Bowness between late November and early January.
The main Kendal run is The Elves and the Shoemaker at Brewery Arts, which is scheduled from 19 to 28 December. The 50-minute production is aimed at children aged three and over, with twice-daily performances on most dates and tickets priced at £15.50, or £57 for a family of four.
Christmas shows in Kendal
Before the main Christmas programme begins, Kendal Community Theatre will stage Treasure Island at the Castle Street Centre from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 November.
This family adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story is adapted by Toby Hulse. In this version, a bored schoolgirl called Emily takes the role played by Jim Hawkins in the original story. The show is recommended for audiences from eight years to “80 plus”.
Evening performances are scheduled for 7.30pm, although the Saturday performance times should be checked on the booking page. Tickets cost £12, with £6 tickets available for children, students, carers and people receiving benefits. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £30.
Thursday is listed as a “Pay What You Can Afford” performance, which must be booked in advance through TryBooking. The theatre company says this arrangement is intended to make the production more accessible to local families.
The Elves and the Shoemaker at Brewery Arts
Brewery Arts will present The Elves and the Shoemaker, produced by PaddleBoat Theatre Company with Exeter Northcott Theatre. The show uses clowning, puppetry and a miniature world, and is described as an introduction to theatre for children aged three and above.
There are performances at 1pm and 3.30pm on Saturday 19 December. From Sunday 20 to Thursday 24 December, and again on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 December, performances are scheduled for 11am and 2pm.
There will be no performances on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Tickets are £15.50, including a Brewery Arts commission of between £2.50 and £3.50. A family ticket for four costs £57 and members receive a 10% discount. The venue’s bar and restaurant is closed on Sundays.
Shows at the Victoria Wood Theatre in Bowness
Two further productions are planned at the Victoria Wood Theatre at the World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness. The Gingerbread Boy runs from 19 to 24 December and combines a 50-minute Christmas show with a visit from Santa. Each child receives a free gift from Santa after the performance.
Show-only tickets cost £10 for children aged one to 16 and £12 for adults. Performances are scheduled at 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 19 December, at 11am and 2pm from Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 December, and at 10am and 12pm on Christmas Eve.
Families can add the Beatrix Potter attraction, taking the price to £16.50 for a child and £23.50 for an adult. Afternoon-tea packages after the 11am shows from 20 to 23 December cost £42.50 for an adult and £26.50 for a child aged three or over. Seating is unreserved and tickets are non-refundable.
The venue’s second production, Tomte’s Yuletide Tale, runs from Monday 28 December to Saturday 2 January. The 45-minute puppet and shadow play draws on Scandinavian winter folklore and is suitable for children aged three to 10.
Performances are at 2pm on 28 December, at 11am and 2pm on 29 and 30 December, at 11am on New Year’s Eve, at 2pm on New Year’s Day, and at 11am and 2pm on Saturday 2 January. Ticket prices match The Gingerbread Boy.
The current listings checked for the 2026 Christmas season include Brewery Arts’ full programme, the World of Beatrix Potter’s events and Visit Kendal’s events diary. None carries a traditional pantomime for Kendal. Brewery Arts’ wider Christmas programme includes concerts, comedy and a Royal Ballet screening of The Nutcracker on 1 December.
The programme may still change. The listings are due to be checked again in late October for additional dates or a possible pantomime announcement. Other festive events highlighted for the wider area include Kendal’s Christmas lights switch-on, opportunities to meet Father Christmas and Winter at Sizergh.