Potted Panto at Wilton’s: A Festive Treat

Sarah
3 days ago
3 min read

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There are some Christmas traditions I’ll defend more fiercely than the last purple Quality Street — Buck's Fizz for breakfast, a real tree, a beautifully laid table, and an annual pilgrimage to Wilton’s Music Hall for its gloriously bonkers Potted Panto.

And this year’s edition? Sparkling, silly and absolutely stuffed with fresh festive mischief.

A man dresses in rags as Cinderella, with a second man attached to a full sized ventriloquist's dummy acting as the other ugly sister — Gary, the second ugly sister and Dan in Cinderalla

Dan Returns… and Gary Joins the Fun of Potted Panto

Followers of the show will know Potted Panto was created and originally performed by the iconic duo Dan Clarkson and Jefferson Turner. This year, Dan is back, full of cheeky charm and razor-sharp comedy — but Jefferson is taking a break.

Stepping into those well-loved shoes is Gary Trainor, who brings brilliant timing, warmth and the perfect energy. He's no stranger to the Potted format though having previously performed in the world tour of Potted Potter. Together, he and Dan make a cracking pair — familiar yet fresh, and clearly having a lot of fun. They are joined by Georgia Corrigan as the Fairy, Jacob Jackson and James Guilliford as other characters such as the chestnut seller in A Christmas Carol. The second ugly sister in Cinderella deserves a nod too - 'yeah'.

And of course, they don’t miss the chance to poke fun at Gary’s shift from West End pedigree to East End panto pandemonium. The gag “A Gary is just for Christmas” became an instant audience favourite.

Topical Jokes, Updated Chaos — and Now a 20-Minute Interval

As always, the show has been updated with topical jokes, sly references and new silliness sprinkled throughout. You can expect potted versions of Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Aladdin, with the Nativity and a mash up of A Christmas Carol with Abanazar instead of Ebenezer (it'll make sense when you see it!)

Putting in an interval is a first for Potted Panto. It gives children a breather and adults enough time to head to Wilton’s beautifully atmospheric bar for a festive tipple.

Do be prepared for:

Audience participation in an AI 3D scene (yes, really — and it’s excellent fun).
The possibility of getting a little wet — not soaking, but enough to make everyone squeal with laughter.

It all adds to the sense of gleeful unpredictability and mayhem.

Best for Slightly Older Children

While the show is family-friendly and fast-paced, in our view this version probably works best for slightly older children — those who already know the outlines of classic panto stories.

Recognising the characters and tropes makes the parody ten times funnier, and a lot of the jokes rely on knowing what’s being lovingly poked fun at. If they know their Cinderellas from their Aladdins, they’ll be in heaven. The 10/11 year old sitting behind me was in fits of laughter all the way through.

A Room Full of Roaring Laughter

There are family shows… and then there are shows that genuinely make everyone roar.

This edition had:

Kids shrieking at the slapstick.
Adults giggling uncontrollably at the cheekier lines.
And Wilton’s — still London’s most magical Victorian venue — wrapping the whole thing in warm, twinkly festive glow.

It’s rare to find something that truly delights across generations, but Potted Panto continues to deliver.

A Brilliantly Fun Christmas Night Out

If you’re after festive joy, clever silliness and an evening where you laugh so much your cheeks hurt, Potted Panto at Wilton’s Music Hall is exactly the Christmas tonic you need.

Inventive, energetic, and absolutely bursting with charm — a perfect five-star treat.