A classic Christmas panto starring Jason Manford and Ben Nickless, with lavish sets and costumes from The London Palladium.
Dick Whittington opens at the Manchester Opera House on 5 December 2026 and runs through to 3 January 2027. It's a Christmas panto based on the old English tale: an orphaned young man leaves his village for London, which he's heard is 'paved with gold', and takes along his feisty pussy cat. Along the way, the villainous Queen Rat and the Spirit stand in his way, and the story follows Dick and his cat on a rags-to-riches quest for fame, fortune and the Lord Mayor's office. It's a classic of the genre, and the production keeps in all the traditional panto ingredients you'd expect.
Jason Manford and Ben Nickless lead the cast, with Adam Strong as King Rat, Landi Oshinowo as the Spirit of Bow Bells and Sarah Vaughan as Alice Fitzwarren. The sets and costumes come from The London Palladium, so the production has the lavish look that usually goes with a big West End panto. It's a family show, and there's a relaxed performance available if that's what you're after.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Manchester and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
One thing to keep in mind if you'd previously looked at the Opera House's winter schedule: Dick Whittington replaces Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which had been announced for the same venue. So if you were planning on Snow White, this is the one that's actually on. The run goes from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the Opera House, 3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP.
