Record-breaking Panto sales continue at the Towngate Theatre!

Following the ★★★★★ success of Jack and the Beanstalk 2024-25, the Towngate Theatre’s spectacular
panto for 2025-26 will be the fairytale story of Sleeping Beauty! This dreamy show will bring all the magic
of panto to the Towngate stage and have you rolling in the aisles with laughter, with this sparkling
adventure for all the family!

Even though it is only September, tickets are skyrocketing in advance and beating all previous Box Office sales! With over 10,000 tickets sold already, Sleeping Beauty is shaping up to be the Towngate’s biggest and fasting selling pantomime in the Theatre’s history.

Towngate Theatre Manager and Co-Producer, Simon Scott-Pearce, says:

“We are so excited to bring the magical tale of Sleeping Beauty to Essex in just over 2 months’ time! The Towngate’s pantomimes are an Essex family-favourite and the start of many a Basildonian’s Christmas celebration.

The current record-breaking Box Office sales clearly show just how important the Towngate Theatre is to the residents of Essex, and every year we are so thrilled that they choose the Towngate as their pantomime outing during the festive season.

Whether it’s an annual family tradition, a school performance full of excited children, a Christmas work night out, or a group of panto fans, our pantomimes are a wonderful experience for ages 4 to 104!

With tickets flying out the door and some performances already nearly booked, we would strongly recommend securing your seats now. We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for you with Sleeping Beauty!”

Basildon favourites, Sophie Ladds and Ian Hallard, will return to the Basildon-based Theatre as everyone’s favourite panto villain and dame. Sophie will be playing the evil Carabosse and Ian returns as sassy Dame Dolly. Joining Ian and Sophie will be Sophia Ragavelas as Fairy Moonbeam, Thomas Griffiths as Prince Charming, Michael Ayiotis as Jangles and Jazz Cave will be making her professional debut as Princess Aurora.

This local gem is the jewel in the crown of Essex, boasting an award-winning, critically acclaimed creative and technical panto team. Working alongside the five-star team at Evolution Productions, this fabulous family panto for 2025-26 promises to be a DREAM of a show – with all the fun, mayhem and magic that audiences have come to expect from a Towngate pantomime.

Featuring stunning scenery, colourful costumes, dazzling dancers and a fantastic live band at every performance, Sleeping Beauty promises to be a non-stop, musical extravaganza that is not to be missed!

So don’t delay on securing the best seats – you snooze, you lose! Visit the Towngate’s website to book
now for the panto of your dreams!

Sleeping Beauty runs at the Towngate Theatre from Thursday 27 November 2025 – Sunday 4 January. To book tickets, visit www.towngatetheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01268 205 300.

Aston spoke to Sophie Ladds.