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The UK Pantomime Association has announced the winners of its annual The Pantomime Awards 2025.

The winners were announced on Sunday 13 April 2025, at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

Elaine C Smith picked up the coveted award for Outstanding Achievement in Pantomime, for her many decades as one of Scotland’s best-loved pantomime performers. Elaine was also one of the Awards show’s trio of presenters, sharing the stage for the evening with fellow top performers, Dave Benson Phillips and La Voix.

This year’s Special Recognition Awards, which celebrate productions and individuals representing the values that the Association seeks to promote, went to: He’s Behind You!, who received the award for Achievement in Inclusive Practice for celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and their progressive queer pantomimes; Oxford Playhouse, who received the award for Achievement in Innovation for their fresh and exciting re-appraisals of familiar fairytale narratives; and Brick Lane Music Hall, who received the Nigel Ellacott Special Recognition Award for Pantomime History, Tradition and Heritage, an accolade which was introduced this year in remembrance of the much-loved pantomime artist and historian who sadly passed away in 2024.

The Awards ceremony featured special guest performances from entertainment legend Anita Harris, family favourite Basil Brush with award-winning comedian and cabaret performer Kevin Cruise (aka Martin Cabble-Reid) and ITV Britain’s Got Talent rising star ventriloquist Jamie Leahey.

Nominees for the awards were announced in March, see the full list of Pantomime Awards 2025 nominations.

Simon Sladen, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association, said in a statement: “Huge congratulations to all of the nominees and winners at The Pantomime Awards 2025! What a wonderful evening to celebrate excellence across the pantomime industry and salute the talent, skill, passion, craftsmanship and expertise that goes into each and every season.”

Chris McGuigan, Group Commercial Director for Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year’s Panto Awards. Trafalgar is proud to co-sponsor this gloriously glittery evening as part of our ongoing commitment to pantomime as a genre. The ‘joyful chaos’ of panto season is a vital component of the regional theatre sector – and so it’s wonderful to celebrate it alongside many of the talented artists, acts, entertainers, writers, creatives, tech teams and producers who make it all happen. We’re already looking forward to hosting the event in 2026!”

Claire Dixon, Business Director for ATG Entertainment, said: “ATG Entertainment is honoured to co-sponsor the Pantomime Awards 2025 and extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Pantomime is a cherished tradition that brings joy to audiences of all ages, and we are proud to support and celebrate the extraordinary creativity, talent and dedication that make this artform so beloved.”

The Pantomime Awards 2025 – Full list of winners

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Ebony Clarke: Cinderella, Royal & Derngate, Northampton (Evolution Productions)

BEST LIGHTING (sponsored by Production Light and Sound)
Andy Webb: Sleeping Beauty, Festival Theatre, Malvern (UK Productions)

CARMEN SILVERA AWARD FOR BEST MAGICAL BEING:
Danielle Jam: Jack and the Beanstalk, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (Crossroads Pantomimes)

BARBARA WINDSOR AWARD FOR BEST PRINCIPAL LEAD
Mia Overfield: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fairfield Halls, Croydon (UK Productions)

BEST SCRIPT:
Anthony Spargo: Dick Whittington and his Cat, Greenwich Theatre, London (In-House)

BEST SECONDARY LEAD:
Mia Welsh: Dick Whittington, Theatre Royal Windsor (In-House)

BEST VILLAIN (sponsored by Breckman and Company):
Zoe West: Rapunzel, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool (In-House)

BEST COMIC:
Steve Royle: Cinderella, Blackpool Grand Theatre (UK Productions)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
Katie Lias: Sleeping Beauty, Salisbury Playhouse (Wiltshire Creative)

CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS AWARD FOR BEST DAME
Antony Stuart-Hicks: The New Adventures of Peter Pan, Mercury Theatre, Colchester (In-House)

BEST DIRECTION
Chris Jordan: Snow White, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (Eastbourne Theatres in association with Jordan Productions)

BEST ENSEMBLE
Nikki Schofield, Alanna Panditaratne, James Everest, Ariel Nyandoro, Jacob Stebbings: Peter Pan, Victoria Theatre, Halifax (Imagine Theatre)

BEST CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
Tayo Akinbode: Mother Goose, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, Theatr Clwyd, Mold (In-House)

BEST SET DESIGN (sponsored by Blue-i)
Becky Minto: Mother Goose, Perth Theatre (In-House)

BEST SISTERS
Harry Howle and Steven Roberts: Cinderella, Cambridge Arts Theatre (In-House)

BEST SOUND (sponsored by Orbital Sound)
Kate Harvey: Jack and the Beanstalk, Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford (Imagine Theatre)

BEST SUPPORTING ARTIST
Marc Pickering: Snow White, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions)

BEST NEWCOMER TO PANTOMIME
Owain Wyn Evans: Cinderella, New Theatre, Cardiff (Crossroads Pantomimes)

BEST NEWCOMER TO INDUSTRY
Emma Robertson: Snow White, Loughborough Town Hall (Little Wolf Entertainment)

BEST PANTOMIME (UNDER 500 SEATS) (sponsored by Showtime, a Howden Company)
Dick Whittington and his Cat, Greenwich Theatre (In-House)

BEST PANTOMIME (500 – 900 SEATS)
Snow White, Loughborough Town Hall (Little Wolf Entertainment)

BEST PANTOMIME (OVER 900 SEATS)
Snow White, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PANTOMIME
Elaine C Smith

ACHIEVEMENT IN INCLUSIVE PRACTICE
He’s Behind You!

ACHIEVEMENT IN INNOVATION
Oxford Playhouse

NIGEL ELLACOTT SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR PANTOMIME HISTORY, TRADITION AND HERITAGE
Brick Lane Music Hall

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Main photo: Pantomime Awards 2025 - Elaine C Smith and La Voix (Photos. Andrew Billington Photography)

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