FM Theatre Productions has made local panto history, by being the first theatre company to produce not one, but TWO pantomimes for the Christmas season. Two spectacular productions will be staged, one for each island – 'Rapunzel: A Tangled Panto' at Teatru Manoel in Valletta and 'Red Riding Hood: A Rock n’ Roll Panto' at Teatru Astra in Rabat, Gozo.

Rapunzel: A Tangled Panto at Teatru Manoel

At the majestic Teatru Manoel, audiences are in for a treat with 'Rapunzel: A Tangled Panto', marking the directorial debut of Luke Mercieca. The production stars the iconic Edward Mercieca as Dame, alongside panto favorite Chiara Hyzler and a stellar cast, including Hannah Spiteri, Jasmine Farrugia, Maria Buckle, Sean Azzopardi, Antonella Mifsud, and Hannah Gatt, among others.

Undoubtedly, Teatru Manoel is the home of the traditional panto that audiences have come to know and love, and 'Rapunzel: A Tangled Panto' is as magical as it is entertainingly hilarious.

The show is brought to life by an exceptional creative team, with Kris Spiteri as Musical Director, Francesco Nicodeme as Choreographer, Matthew Cassar for Set Design, and Denise Mulholland as Costume Designer.

Red Riding Hood: A Rock n’ Roll Panto at Teatru Astra

At Teatru Astra in Gozo, the third installment of the actor-musician panto series will come to life with 'Red Riding Hood: A Rock n’ Roll Panto', under the direction of Chris Gatt with musical direction by Cathy Lawlor. This unique production, where the cast performs both as characters and as a live rock band, introduces Sean Borg in the role of Dame. Joining him is an energetic ensemble, including Rebecca Darmanin as Red Riding Hood, alongside Tina Rizzo, Gianni Selvaggi, Cathy Lawlor, Dan Ganado, Federica Giallombardo, Hannah Attard, and Peter Farrugia.

While panto at Teatru Manoel has been a long-standing tradition dating back to the 1960s, panto at Teatru Astra offers a fresh and exciting twist, steadily building its audience since its debut in 2022. In collaboration with Teatru Astra, the Rock n’ Roll Panto has carved out a unique identity, blending the classic elements of panto with the electrifying energy of a rock concert.

Ready for some Christmas panto fun? Additional information can be found on the Teatru Manoel and Teatru Astra websites. 

Which of these fun-packed shows tickles your fancy?