The 2026 festive season at Middlesbrough Theatre will feature the well‑known pantomime Aladdin, staged by Extravaganza Productions Ltd and due to run throughout December. The production brings back a familiar face in the comic role of Wishee Washee and promises the traditional mix of spectacle, audience participation and family entertainment that locals expect from the town's winter programme.
Cast, dates and accessibility
The company confirmed that Philip Green will reprise the role of Wishee Washee for his eighth consecutive year. Leading parts are filled by Sol Nicholson as Aladdin, Paul Hawkyard as the villain Abanazar and Robert Laughlin as Widow Twanky. The council said an additional cast member will be named later in the year.
Performances are scheduled from Saturday 5 December to Thursday 31 December at Middlesbrough Theatre, The Avenue, TS5 6SA. The run will include a signed performance on Thursday 17 December at 7pm and a relaxed performance on Tuesday 22 December at 2pm, reflecting an effort to make the show accessible to a wider audience.
- Show title: Aladdin
- Producer: Extravaganza Productions Ltd
- Run: 5–31 December 2026
- Accessibility: signed and relaxed performances included
“No festive season would be complete without a raucous, side‑splitting panto with guaranteed laughs for the all the family,”
These were the words of Councillor Philippa Storey, the council's executive member for Education & Culture, who encouraged residents to book early because tickets are already moving quickly.
What audiences can expect
Promotional material highlights traditional panto elements: dazzling costumes, special effects, comedic routines and direct audience involvement. The plot will follow the familiar Aladdin story — a young peasant seeking to win a princess with the help of a Genie while fending off the scheming Abanazar. No new or altered storyline details were published.
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| Aladdin | Sol Nicholson |
| Abanazar | Paul Hawkyard |
| Widow Twanky | Robert Laughlin |
| Wishee Washee | Philip Green |
Tickets are available now from the theatre box office and online. The council noted that availability is limited and advised early booking. For telephone enquiries or bookings, the Box Office can be contacted on 01642 81 51 81. Further information and full performance details are listed on the theatre's box office website.
This season's offering underlines Middlesbrough Theatre's role as a focal point for family entertainment in the town centre, combining established pantomime tradition with designated performances to improve accessibility for deaf and neurodiverse audience members.
