Tomorrow Hitchin’s Market Theatre officially starts its Christmas season with the infamous Adult Panto, which this year is titled Hansel & Gretel Go Down in the Woods.

With quite possibly the longest pantomime run in the world, the show will run until May 2019 and also sees a 30-date UK tour to go alongside its Hitchin shows.

The cast – Nick Hooton, Pippa Johnson and Lauren Osborn – have already visited Scunthorpe, Wimborne and Eastbourne in November and now return to Hitchin where they will be sharing the run with a second cast while also touring until March.

Nick, who has been doing adult panto since 2004, said: “The audience reaction on tour so far has been amazing so we can’t wait to open it in our home venue and see the reaction here.

“Because of the intimacy of the Market Theatre there is something special about how the audience engage with the show. No one performance is ever the same when it comes to getting them involved in the audience participation moments – and that certainly keeps it fun for us and keeps us on our toes!”

The Sun Street venue also has its annual offering for children, and this year’s traditional Christmas story is The Snow Queen, starring Bethany Filler as the ice queen herself with Stephen Emery and Chloe Van Harding playing Kay and Gerda, as well as a host of other characters along the way.

The Market Theatre’s Cabaret Bar will be transformed into a winter wonderland for this magical children’s tale which opens on December 15 and runs until December 29.

Theatre manager Glyn Doggett said: “We are well known for our adult panto, but we always produce a show at Christmas for children. As a parent myself there is nothing like taking your little ones to live theatre, especially at Christmas.

“I’m really excited about The Snow Queen as in previous years the children’s show has shared the same stage as the Adult Panto but, as this year’s show has it’s own venue, it allows us to make the experience just that little bit more magical.”

Kirk Foster, artistic director and writer of both the Adult Panto and the Snow Queen, added: “Christmas is always my favorite time of the year at The Market Theatre, there is such a buzz about the place and this year with our two main shows in separate venues it really feels like Christmas has taken over this little corner of Sun Street. Young or old we have certainly got something for everyone this Christmas season!”

Also this December the Market Theatre welcomes The Christmas Cracker Cabaret, two evenings of live Christmas music on December 3 and 10 sung by an array of West End performers.

For more details or to book, visit markettheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01462 433553.