Families can share in the magic of Christmas as The Magical Adventures of Sleeping Beauty brings festive fun and a fairy-tale adventure to Clacton’s Princes Theatre this December.

The much-loved pantomime tells the story of Princess Beauty, cursed by the evil Carabosse to prick her finger on a spinning wheel on her 21st birthday.

With help from her fairy, a brave prince and a little panto magic, audiences will discover whether love, laughter and a battle with a dragon can save the day.

The festive show runs at the Tendring District Council-run (TDC) theatre from Saturday, 5 December, to Tuesday, 29 December, 2026.

Councillor Gary Scott, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture and Heritage, said: “A trip to the panto is a lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit and spend time with family and friends.

“Whether it’s an annual tradition or your first visit, we’d love to welcome you to the Princes Theatre this December for a Christmas treat full of laughter and fairy-tale magic.

“We want more people to be able to enjoy that experience, which is why we’re offering a relaxed and BSL-interpreted performance, with adjustments to the lighting and sound and the freedom to move around or make noise.

“It’s a chance for more families to enjoy the laughs, spectacle and festive fun of a Clacton panto together.”

The curtain rises on Saturday, 5 December, at 1pm with an opening-performance offer of £15.50 for every ticket, giving families the chance to be among the first to experience this year’s fairy-tale adventure at a reduced price.

A relaxed and British Sign Language-interpreted performance will take place on Thursday, 17 December, at 6pm. The show will feature no complete darkness, loud noises, flashing lights or pyrotechnic effects, while audience members are welcome to move around, make noise and enjoy the production in an inclusive and accepting atmosphere.

James Shone, of Shone Productions, which is presenting the show, said: “Christmas panto is all about bringing people together for a good laugh, and we can’t wait to share Sleeping Beauty with audiences at the Princes Theatre.

“Hearing the audience cheering and booing is always one of the best parts of panto, so we hope everyone will join in and help bring the story to life.

“With all tickets for the opening performance at £15.50, it’s a good chance to come along and see the show for less.”

For those who like their panto with a naughty twist, the adults-only Sleeping Beauty returns for two performances following popular demand, on Sunday, 27 December, and Monday, 28 December, at 8pm.

Suitable for ages 18 and over, the grown-up version turns the familiar bedtime story on its head with cheeky one-liners, outrageous comedy, innuendo, eye-catching costumes and dazzling dance routines.

Tickets are available now from the Princes Theatre website at princestheatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01255 686633 (Option 1).