Fee fi fo fum, Derby Arena is in for some fun - giant adventures for 2018’s festive double-bill

Jack and the Beanstalk image of Dame in costume

Thu 9 Nov 2017

We’d like to invite the people of Derby for some giant fun for Christmas 2018. Join Derby LIVE, Little Wolf Entertainment and an all-star cast for a traditional family Pantomime with the classic adventure story of Jack and the Beanstalk at Derby Arena, and family treat The Dinosaur who came for Christmas at the Guildhall Theatre.

A trip to the pantomime is sure to get the family into the Christmas spirit. Derby Arena will be transformed into magical theatre space, with spectacular pyrotechnics and amazing special effects. It will bring together sensational sets and costumes, hilarious comedy, fabulous music and dazzling dance routines.

The villagers of Dappy Darley on the Derwent are under threat from a ginormous giant! Poor young Jack has his head in the clouds, but when he sells his beloved cow Pat for just a handful of beans he begins a huge adventure which takes him to new heights.

The team behind this year’s Beauty and the Beast (Tue 5 – Sun 31 Dec 2017) will return in 2018 with the BIGGEST panto of them all, Jack and the Beanstalk with marvellous moosic, cow-ntless costumes and an udderly ridiculous dame with giant-sized jokes!

Everyone’s favourite characters will be bought to life in this enchanting and spellbinding tale that will combine hilarious comedy, fantastic music and dance routines and lots of audience participation.

Panto always guarantees fun for all the family, with lots of audience participation that will have everyone all shouting ‘he’s behind you’.

It’s never too soon to get tickets for this festive family favourite; book now for the best seats in the house at the best prices with the panto early bird rate.

Jack and the Beanstalk will be on stage at Derby Arena from Saturday 8 December 2018 until Saturday 5 January 2019, tickets priced from £14.75 with concessions, group, school and family tickets available. Save £2 when you book by 31 Oct 2018, with other savings available.

At the Guildhall Theatre, Derby LIVE is proud to welcome back theatre company Babbling Vagabonds from Fri 7 – Sun 30 December 2018, with a new fantastic family show The Dinosaur who came for Christmas.

Expect a Christmas cracker of a tale, crammed with goodies, baddies, and a whole lot of fun, as the team weave the story of a Christmas with an unexpected guest! With a mix of actors playing various roles, original songs and music, puppets, and brilliant shadow work, the story will come to life as we see what happens when it’s not just Gran who comes to stay.

Building on past success this will be the sixth year Buxton-based theatre company Babbling Vagabonds return to Derby LIVE’s Guildhall Theatre. Created by Phil Coggins, Mark Hornsey and Tara Hornsey-Saunders, the team began making theatre shows together in 2000 after they met whilst at drama school. They love telling old tales or creating new, from gruesome and gory to magical and marvellous.

Babbling Vagabonds enjoy putting on shows in wonderful places - sometimes indoors and sometimes out, to small groups or auditoriums. Their past successful Christmas shows at the Guildhall Theatre include, The Christmas Chocolate Shop, Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves, The Potty Professor’s Christmas Miracle and last year’s Captain Sprout and the Christmas Pirates. This year, they present Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper at Derby’s Guildhall Theatre from Thu 7 – Thu 28 Dec 2017.

Tickets for The Dinosaur who came for Christmas at the Guildhall Theatre from Friday 7 to Sunday 30 December 2018 are priced at £11.50 - £13.50, with concessions, family tickets, school and group rates available.

It’s never too early to book for these fantastic 2018 festive treats – we can’t wait to welcome you all again next year.