Easter Pantomime: The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid comes to the Royal Hippodrome Theatre from Friday 26 to Tuesday 30 March 2027, a family pantomime that follows Coral, who dreams of life above the waves and falls for her dashing Prince while the wicked sea witch Octavia is ready to cause trouble. It's a pantomime in the proper sense: comedy, dazzling scenery and shimmering costumes are the main draw, and it runs over five days with a fair few options for when to go.

There's a bit of a twist to the run, though. On Saturday 27 March, there's a 'STRICTLY 18YRS+' night, billed as a wickedly naughty evening packed with outrageous jokes and unapologetic innuendo for older boys and girls. If you're taking the kids, that's the one to avoid. On the other end of the scale, Tuesday 30 March features a Relaxed Performance, adapted to reduce anxiety or stress and welcoming those who experience sensory overload, people with a learning disability and parents with very young children.

Between those two, there are plenty of family-friendly slots to choose from. Opening day on Friday 26 has a matinee at 2:30pm and an evening show at 6:00pm. Saturday 27 is the 18+ night at 8:00pm. Sunday 28 has a 4:00pm show, Monday 29 is back to a 2:30pm matinee, and Tuesday 30 has both the Relaxed Performance at 11:00am and a second show at 2:30pm.

Tickets change depending on the night. Opening day on Friday 26 is £12 for all seats, and the Adult Night on Saturday 27 is £20 across the board. For the Relaxed Performance on Tuesday 30, it's £15.50 full price and £13.50 concession. All other performances are £17.50 full price and £15.50 concession. The Hippodrome is at 106-114 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3PF.