Lichfield Garrick panto 2026 is Robin Hood, 20 November to 10 January, from £15. Cast, all 62 public shows, BSL and relaxed dates, and the dark Friday.

This year’s Lichfield pantomime is Robin Hood, at the Lichfield Garrick from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027. The theatre’s booking system is carrying 88 performances in all: 62 on public sale and 26 weekday morning and early-afternoon school performances that are not.

Tickets start at £15, and the theatre’s own listing describes it as a brand-new panto from the Garrick’s award-winning team, with set and costume design by John Brooking. The opening night, Friday 20 November at 7pm, is billed as a preview.

Lichfield Garrick panto 2026: who is in Robin Hood

This is the first pantomime the Garrick has produced in-house for more than a decade, and the full cast was announced on 5 September:

Role Cast
Robin Hood, the lead Ben Thornton
Nurse Nellie, the dame Ben Stock, the Garrick’s new dame
Sheriff of Nottingham Joe Feeney
Maid Marian Eliza Waters
Morgana Rosie Napper
Merlin Ashley Cavender
Bluebell Anna Soden

Garrick chief executive and artistic director Daniel Buckroyd directs. Barry Smith designs the lighting, Gary Jerry is on music and Kayleigh Dettmer choreographs. The same four principals, Thornton, Stock, Feeney and Soden, are the faces on the cast panel of the theatre’s own booking page.

What it costs, and the six cheapest dates

Prices on the Garrick’s system start from £15 on six performances and from £20 on the other 56. The £15 dates are all at the front of the run, plus one in January:

  • Friday 20 November, 7pm
  • Saturday 21 November, 2pm and 7pm
  • Sunday 22 November, 11am
  • Friday 27 November, 7pm
  • Thursday 7 January, 7pm

Worth knowing before you book:

  • Babes in arms, under 18 months on the day of the performance, are £3 and sit on a lap. Book by phone, or change the ticket type in the drop-down after choosing seats
  • Groups of 10 or more get £3 off and 25 or more get £5 off standard tickets, on certain performances. The Garrick asks you to call the box office on 01543 412121 for a booking that size
  • Schools book through the Box Office Manager by emailing estimated numbers to pete.stevens@lichfieldgarrick.com, not by phone. Reception to Year 3 get every sixth ticket free for staff, other year groups every eleventh
  • A souvenir programme is now £5 added at checkout. It was £4 until 1 October; the Garrick’s booking page showed the £5 price when we re-checked on 6 October
  • Exchanges to another performance cost £2 and depend on availability. Sold-out tickets can be resold by the theatre for £2 a ticket

Every public performance

Dates marked * are the ones starting from £15. Everything else starts from £20.

Date Performances
Fri 20 Nov 7pm* (preview)
Sat 21 Nov 2pm, 7pm
Sun 22 Nov 11am*, 3pm
Thu 26 Nov 7pm
Fri 27 Nov 7pm*
Sat 28 Nov 2pm, 7pm
Sun 29 Nov 11am, 3.30pm
Fri 4 Dec 7pm
Sat 5 Dec 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Sun 6 Dec 11am, 3pm
Fri 11 Dec 7pm
Sat 12 Dec 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Sun 13 Dec 11am, 3pm
Thu 17 Dec 7pm
Sat 19 Dec 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Sun 20 Dec 11am, 3pm
Mon 21 Dec 2pm, 7pm
Tue 22 Dec 2pm, 7pm
Wed 23 Dec 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Thu 24 Dec 11am, 3pm
Sat 26 Dec 2pm, 7pm
Sun 27 Dec 11am, 3pm
Mon 28 Dec 2pm, 7pm
Tue 29 Dec 2pm, 7pm
Wed 30 Dec 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Thu 31 Dec 11am, 3pm
Sat 2 Jan 10am, 2pm, 7pm
Sun 3 Jan 11am, 3pm
Thu 7 Jan 7pm*
Fri 8 Jan 7pm
Sat 9 Jan 2pm, 7pm
Sun 10 Jan 11am, 3pm

The dark days people get caught by

There is nothing on Friday 18 December, which is the one that trips families up, because every other Friday in the run has a 7pm show. The panto is also dark on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, every Monday until 21 December, and from Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 January.

Relaxed and BSL performances

The Garrick has confirmed three accessible performances:

  • Relaxed performance: Sunday 29 November, 11am
  • BSL signed: Thursday 17 December, 7pm, and Sunday 3 January, 11am

The show contains flashing lights, strobe, haze and pyrotechnics, which is worth weighing if you are booking for anyone sensitive to them.

The other Christmas shows

The Garrick has a second festive show in its Studio, and Creative Burntwood is touring two more into village venues at £5 a ticket:

  • A Shoddy Nativity, Studio, Friday 4 December to Sunday 3 January, from £25
  • A Christmas Carol, Creative Burntwood at St Anne’s Church, Friday 4 December, £5, or £8 with a mince pie and mulled wine
  • A Christmas Story, Creative Burntwood at The Ashmole Bowls and Social Club, Saturday 12 December, £5
  • Christmas in Ireland, Main Auditorium, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November, £34
  • The Nutcracker, New English Ballet Theatre, Main Auditorium, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November, £30

If you want lights rather than a stage, Lichfield Cathedral’s Follow the Star runs 15 to 21 December and the Arboretum’s Illuminated runs 4 to 22 December. Both are covered on our Christmas lights switch-on page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Lichfield Garrick panto in 2026?

Robin Hood, the Garrick’s own production, running from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027 in the Main Auditorium.

How much are Lichfield Garrick panto tickets?

From £15 on six performances (7pm on 20 November, both shows on 21 November, 11am on 22 November, 7pm on 27 November and 7pm on 7 January) and from £20 on the other 56. Babes in arms under 18 months are £3. Book on lichfieldgarrick.com or on 01543 412121.

Who is in the Lichfield panto this year?

Ben Thornton plays Robin Hood, Ben Stock is the new dame, Nurse Nellie, and Joe Feeney plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, with Eliza Waters as Maid Marian.

Is there a relaxed or signed performance?

Yes. The relaxed performance is Sunday 29 November at 11am, and BSL signed performances are Thursday 17 December at 7pm and Sunday 3 January at 11am.

Getting there and parking

The Garrick is on Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR, a couple of minutes’ walk from Market Square. The box office is on 01543 412121 or hello@lichfieldgarrick.com. Evening performances finish after most short stay car parks have stopped charging, but the Sunday and bank holiday rule still applies in the city centre: see parking in Lichfield. If you are driving in on a matinee Saturday, check our roadworks and travel page first.

Sources