We're delighted to reveal a first look at our pantomime for this festive season. Snow White, written by Sarah Henley and directed by its Artistic Director Mike Tweddle, will play at the theatre from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. 

The newly unveiled photographs see Eliza Bowden, who will play Snow, bringing her character to life in the setting of Worcester College’s apple orchard. It was the first time meeting the rest of the cast ahead of rehearsals, which begin later this month. 

On taking on the role of Snow White, the Oxfordshire-based actor said: 

“This is my first pantomime! I’m from Oxford; I don’t really know how I’ve managed to have my first panto as my hometown one, but it’s really exciting! As someone who went to school in the city, the fact we have children from the area [in the show], it’s nice that they are getting to come and be a part of it and fall in love with theatre like I fell in love with it in Oxford. That feels really special.”

Alongside Eliza Bowden is Duane Gooden (Animal Rocks – Oxford Playhouse, Mama Goose – Stratford East) who plays the show’s dame, Marigold, Niyi Bammodu (Macbeth – Young Shakespeare Company) as Hunter, Elliot Gooch (Sister Act and Grease – UK Tours) as Elijah, Alex Roberts (Death Drop: Back in the Habit – West End & UK Tour, Beetlejuice: The Musical - NCL) as MiRi, and Izzie Winter (Moominvalley in November – Upstairs at the Gatehouse, My Sister is Missing! – Oxford Playhouse’s Queer Fest) as Ivy. The cast is completed by two ensemble members playing multiple roles, Jay Albray (Berlin, Berlin – ATG) and Erin Dallas (A Fairytale for Christmas – West End & UK Tour). 

The Panto Young Company, formed of local 11 to 15-year-olds, will also star in The Playhouse’s production. The two groups of young people will perform as the Green Rebel Club and take on various other roles alongside the show’s Adult Company.

The company brings a new band of spectacular characters to glittering life in a world of magic, mischief and music. Reimagined for the digital age, this classic adventure begins in West Oxford Wood, the kingdom’s last remaining enchanted forest.  

In this Playhouse pantomime, Snow lives with the evil Queen Narcissa. The queen spends her days destroying the forest, mining minerals to power her cosmetic beauty enhancing products which improves her online status. Snow wants a different world, and goes out into the forest to meet a band of rebels who all team up on a quest to overthrow the queen.

With music composed and arranged by Grammy-nominated musician Caolan McCarthy (Amélie The Musical), Snow White features feel-good anthems from across the past five decades, as well as original songs written especially for the production.  

Returning to the creative team of the Playhouse pantomime are Bronia Housman as Set Designer, Immy Howard as Costume Designer, Chris Humphries as Sound Designer, Will Hayman as Lighting Designer, Emily Scott as Choreographer, and Augustine Van Spyk as Assistant Sound Designer.  

Paul Simpson joins the team as Associate Director, with Jo Woodcock returning as Production Manager, James Thearle as Head of Production & Master Carpenter, Bart Thiede as Musical Director, and Sarah-Jane Price as Casting Director.  

Mike Tweddle, Artistic Director and CEO of Oxford Playhouse, said:

"This is a brand new, inventive, brilliant version of Snow White. There will be panto sparkle in every place you could imagine, and all the places you can’t too! For us, it’s all about giving people the most memorable, magical Christmas that we can. 

We are really proud of creating a pantomime that is full of the most fun traditions of pantomime, but also has lots of edge and surprises along the way. It tells a story where we can talk about all the different things that are going on in our world, but in a way that young people – and older people – can really engage with.”  

Writer of the pantomime, Sarah Henley said:  

“There are two areas in this year’s panto. We’ve got the castle which is quite high tech and all about beauty and glamour. And we’ve got the forest which is earthy and where lots of magical things happen. It’s going to be a visual feast; I can’t wait to see it come to life! Audiences are going to love it.”