From 8th-11th January 2026, the award winning Chrysanths Pantomime Society brought their annual panto to New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion and it was, as ever, a roaring success! The perfect antidote to the post-Christmas and New Year January blues, this was a fantastic panto and a shining example of just how magical live theatre can be.
This year’s story brought together familiar faces, slapstick humour and a wonderfully whimsical retelling of a well-loved tale. Harry and Holly — the young heirs of the Duke and Duchess of Nottingham — are left orphaned after a tragic shipwreck. As the only surviving children of the noble family, they stand to inherit a vast fortune on their eighteenth birthdays. What lies ahead is a thrilling battle for the inheritance!
Featuring a hilarious plot including the Sheriff of Nottingham, his hilariously inept henchmen Swiggit and Scoffit, the Wicked Witch, Maid Marian and of course, Robin Hood & His Merry Men, this panto was a blockbuster hit! With music, laughter, slapstick antics and magical storytelling, it was masterfully crafted by a company that lives and breathes pantomime.
The Chrysanthemums Pantomime Society is a multi-award winning production company celebrating an astonishing 107 years of continuous performances. Incredibly, the group are one of the longest-running pantomime societies in the UK — possibly even the world.
The group’s origins date back to the summer of 1918. Nearing the end of World War I, a group of amateur performers staged an out-of-season pantomime in the garden of a home on Vaughan Road, New Brighton, framed by a stunning backdrop of chrysanthemum flowers — giving the society its distinctive name.
We attended on the Friday evening, and the atmosphere said it all – a packed house buzzing with excitement. From the moment the curtain went up, it was clear we were in for a high-quality, classic pantomime that delivered on every level.
The production struck the perfect balance between child-friendly silliness and cleverly placed innuendo for the adults, ensuring laughs across all ages. The show was fast-paced, packed with twists and turns, and bursting with colour, props and energy from start to finish.
A couple of standout performances came from Aaron Hayes as Nurse Nitty Nora, who was an absolute hoot. His delivery of hilarious Scouse jokes had the audience in stitches and brought a brilliant local flavour to the role.
Special praise must also go to the lead children, Mollie Roberts and Daisy Drummond. These two young performers were outstanding – confident, charismatic, and hugely talented. They are clearly destined for greatness, and it was a joy to watch them shine on stage.
The children’s dance troupes were equally impressive, delivering stunning choreography alongside an all-singing, all-dancing performance that added real wow-factor to the show. The entire cast, from the actors to the dancers to the live musicians, all absolutely smashed it and filled the waterfront theatre with laughter and joy that will last throughout January.
Overall, Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood was everything you could want from a pantomime – fun, lively, professional and heart-warming. A truly entertaining night out for the whole family. Five stars from us! If you missed this year’s showcase, be sure to pencil in your calendar to book the Chryanths panto for January 2027!
Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood / Thurs 8th – Sun 11th Jan 2026 / The Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Follow The Chrysanths Pantomime Society on FACEBOOK
