A cherished part of Christmas in Watford for many decades, Terence Frisch (Round About Hogarth, Tabard Theatre; Jack and the Beanstalk, Watford Palace Theatre) returns to Watford Palace Theatre for his fourteenth pantomime season as Dame Christmas in this year’s A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime. A firm audience favourite and cornerstone of the theatre’s festive tradition since 2012, Frisch has delighted generations of theatre-goers across productions including Cinderella, Mother Goose, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Dick Whittington and his Cat, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and most recently Jack and the Beanstalk. His screen work includes Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes (Disney), The Walk In (ITV), Call the Midwife (BBC), Last Night in Soho and Hugo. All tickets for A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime are at the cheapest at £15 until 31st August.
Frisch, comments, I’m really pleased to be back at Watford for the Christmas season and for A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime. It’s one of my favourite novels and, now with added Panto, it’s got to be the perfect mix for having a great time. I can’t wait!
Joining Frisch is acclaimed actor and theatre-maker Michael Lambourne (Churchill’s Urinal, King’s Head Theatre; Jack and the Beanstalk, Harrogate Theatre) in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. His stage work includes The Great Gatsby, the UK’s longest-running immersive theatre production, as well as productions with York Theatre Royal, Hull Truck Theatre, Derby Theatre, Punchdrunk, Tall Stories and Secret Cinema. His screen credits include In the Dark (BBC) and ChuckleVision (BBC).
This distinctive reimagining of Dickens’ festive classic sees the resident Dame perform all of the Ghosts of Christmas, guiding the grumpiest Watfordian in town, Ebenezer Scrooge, on a whirlwind journey through past, present and future. The production blends pop hits, big vocals and family-friendly mayhem, as the Dame, Bob Scratchit and the wider Watford community bring the sparkle, while Jakebob Marley returns with a warning Scrooge cannot ignore. With their help, Scrooge is swept into a world of festive chaos, surprises and larger-than-life characters.
A Christmas Carol: The Pantomime is written by CEO and Director of Programming Steve Marmion, a pantomime pioneer and former Artistic Director of Soho Theatre, with over 20 years’ experience creating bold, accessible theatre and championing untold stories. The production is directed by Associate Director James Williams, who continues with the venue’s festive tradition with a focus on community engagement and youth-led creativity. His credits include SpongeBob the Musical: Youth Edition, James and the Giant Peach and Abi’s House Party, alongside more than 30 productions with young people.
Featured Graphic: Courtesy of A Christmas Carol: The PantomimeThis post was last modified on June 17, 2026 5:49 pm