Catch up with the latest news and updates, and sneaky peaks at what it takes to put on our productions. If you'd like us to add anything else - get in touch!
Imagine Theatre is proud to mark its fifth consecutive year as a carbon-neutral organisation through verified carbon offsetting. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices. As we enter our sixth year of carbon neutrality, we remain dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and supporting initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future.
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At Imagine Theatre, we believe in the power of storytelling, community and creating positive experiences that leave a lasting impact. Alongside bringing magic and entertainment to audiences across the UK, we are also proud to support initiatives that help change lives beyond the stage — including our support of Lend with Care.
Lend with Care is a microfinance initiative run by CARE International UK, one of the world’s leading poverty-fighting charities. The charity helps entrepreneurs in low-income countries access small business loans that allow them to build sustainable futures for themselves and their families.
What makes Lend with Care so powerful is its simplicity. A loan of as little as £15 can help someone buy farming equipment, stock a market stall, purchase livestock, or invest in tools and materials to grow a small business. As the loan is repaid, the funds can then be reinvested to support another entrepreneur, creating a cycle of ongoing opportunity and empowerment.
Since beginning our support in 2019, Imagine Theatre has proudly funded more than 1,225 individual £15 loans through the programme. Because the scheme is self-sustaining, as repayments are made the money is reinvested again and again — with some of our original contributions now helping entrepreneurs for the fourth time over.
The impact of this support has been incredible. Together, these loans have helped support 2,648 entrepreneurs as they build and grow their businesses, while contributing towards the creation of 1,783 jobs within local communities around the world.
For us at Imagine Theatre, supporting Lend with Care reflects values that are incredibly important to our company — creativity, ambition, resilience and giving people the opportunity to thrive. Just as theatre has the ability to inspire confidence, bring people together and spark imagination, initiatives like Lend with Care empower individuals to create brighter futures through their own hard work and determination.
We are incredibly proud to support a charity that focuses not simply on aid, but on empowerment — helping people work their way out of poverty with dignity, independence and long-term sustainability.
To find out more about the incredible work of Lend with Care, or to support an entrepreneur yourself, visit lendwithcare.org.
A full overview of Imagine Theatre’s 2026/2027 pantos.
Read MoreImagine Theatre celebrated a fantastic evening at the 2026 UK Pantomime Awards, taking home two major honours and receiving recognition across multiple categories. From award-winning costumes to standout comedy performances, the night was a celebration of the creativity, collaboration and passion that continue to make Imagine Theatre one of the UK’s leading pantomime producers.
Read MoreImagine Theatre has achieved Advanced status under the Theatre Green Book for its production of Sleeping Beauty at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre — a major milestone for sustainable pantomime production. From reusing 100% of the set to carefully planning transport and extending the life of costumes and props, the company is proving that spectacular family entertainment and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Read MoreJustin Fletcher is back on the road with his brand-new live theatre spectacular, Justin Live – Justin Time To Rock! Packed with music, dancing, comedy and audience participation, the rock-tastic family show promises unforgettable fun for children and grown-ups alike as it tours theatres across the UK and Ireland.
Read MoreTake a look behind the scenes at Imagine Theatre - get a peek into our warehouse at some of our sets, props and costumes and meet some of the Imagine Team.
Continuing our blog of what a pantomime company does ‘for the rest of the year’ here is a brief overview of what the Imagine team have been up to during November.
Although people are often surprised to learn we are busy at all times of the year, it is unlikely to come as a surprise to anyone that this time of the year is the busiest for Imagine. As November draws to a close we have 4 shows open and 14 in rehearsal with the final 4 due to begin rehearsals.
Out in the warehouse the team are busy loading multiple lorries each day with sets, costumes, props and tech equipment both for our own shows and the many hires that are going out this season. This season we have begun to work with a sustainable transport company, using HVO fuel, who will be transporting sets as far away as Inverness.
The Associate Producers for each show are busy travelling the country attending producer runs, rehearsals and press nights.
Our Artistic Director Eric Potts has been up in Scotland for a few weeks directing The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow’s Treasure Island as well as overseeing the productions in Kilmarnock and Kirkcaldy and Steve is now Reading based for a couple of weeks to direct our production of Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon.
Inboxes each morning are brimming with rehearsal, chaperone and show reports – over 2500 in total by the end of the season. Each one must be carefully read by the team and actions taken on requests for additional props, costumes, music and set pieces.
The marketing team have been busy working on programmes and final casting announcements as well as helping to arrange cast attendance at events such as Christmas light switch ons and press events. They are also currently getting assets designed ready to start advertising next year’s pantomimes with many venues aiming to go one sale with 2024 shortly.
Finally, we were thrilled with the four-page article about Imagine Theatre that appeared in the recent edition of The Stage, following Tim Bano’s visit to Imagine a few weeks ago. He received a tour of our HQ as well as interviewing members of staff about their roles at Imagine. You can read the article at https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/imagine-theatre-the-inside-story-of-a-festive-powerhouse-pantomime-steve-sarah-boden
BBC CWE also popped in to see us. Find out more at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67567946
If you are interested in a further look behind the scenes check out the fortnightly Just Imagine Podcast which as well as interviews with the members of the Imagine HQ team includes guest interviews from the wide range of people we work with each year.
What Does a Panto Company Do Throughout the Year - October
Continuing our blog of what a pantomime company does ‘for the rest of the year’ here is a brief overview of what the Imagine team have been up to during October.
The clocks have changed, trick or treaters have finished knocking on doors and bonfire night is just around the corner. This can mean only one thing – panto season is hitting full swing!
The first of Imagine’s 19 pantomimes, Cinderella at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, have started their rehearsals this week and with less than two weeks until the next few shows in the schedule begin rehearsals it really is all systems go at Imagine HQ.
October has seen the staff at the local post offices getting very busy with the Imagine Team beginning to drop off scripts to be posted out to the cast and crew for those pantomimes going into rehearsal the earliest.
The wardrobe team have been working hard on some final makes for this panto season and they really have been creating some beautiful costumes. In addition they have their first few shows packed and ready to leave the building. Sewing kits, haberdashery boxes and sewing machines have been taking over the meeting room as they are labelled up and allocated to each show and we have had our final dame costume fitting of the season.
Many of the license applications for more than 400 Junior Ensemble members have been submitted to councils across the UK. This is a massive undertaking for Beth who heads up the child licensing and is the culmination of the last few months of auditions which have seen the team travel the length and breadth of the UK.
Some of the team took a trip down to a studio in London to record the voice overs for the giants and the wicked stepmothers for the season. And with all the music for the pantomimes now finalised Callum has been arranging to get the backing vocals recorded for all of shows during the first week of November.
The marketing team are currently planning for light switch ons and press nights as well working on the ongoing campaigns which are now well under way. It is also that time when copy for programmes is almost due so the chase for those final headshots and biogs is happening.
The ops and stores teams are doing their final preparations for shows that are due to start going out in the next few weeks. Company manager boxes are packed, the extensive paperwork is being finalised, the last few props are being created and final touches to the sets are being made. It will not be long before that first truck of the season makes an appearance!
And, believe it or not, titles, schedules and plans for next year are already well under way!
If you are interested in a further look behind the scenes check out the fortnightly Just Imagine Podcast which as well as interviews with the members of the Imagine HQ team includes guest interviews from the wide range of people we work with each year.
Continuing our blog of what a pantomime company does ‘for the rest of the year’ here is a brief overview of what the Imagine team were up to during September
As we reach Autumn everything is ramping up at Imagine HQ and this month we have welcomed three new members to the team. Jo Longworth has joined the Operations Team as Production Coordinator and also joining the same team is Jazmyne Evans who has taken on the role of Operations and Production Administrator, and we have an addition to our accounts team in Emma Byrne.
All the finer details of the productions are falling into place. The Associate Producers for each show have been busy finalising scripts and signing off on song choices for each of our pantomimes while the wardrobe team have been prepping all the costumes that are going out across eighteen of our own pantomimes as well as creating some fabulous new costumes for these shows. They are also working on a large number of hires for the season.
Set painting is ongoing with some beautiful colourful sets appearing in the warehouse. The stores team have also been getting the rigging boxes ready to go out to each show.
Junior Ensemble auditions have come to a close for this year with thousands of children having auditioned for a part in our pantomimes this Christmas. Beth is currently working hard on getting all the paperwork back for the licenses for almost 500 children.
Head of Casting, Louise Redmond, has spent a lot of September auditioning for our ensemble members for this season as the final pieces of casting fall into place.
Some of the team travelled up to Glasgow to the Pavilion to test build elements of our fabulous Treasure Island set – we can’t say too much but it is going to be spectacular!
The marketing team have been busy getting all the print and artwork for the season signed off as well as proofing the promo videos for the show and creating social media packs to go out to each venue.
Also, Artistic Director Eric Potts attended the reopening gala of the newly refurbished Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy. With the venue looking spectacular we cannot wait to present our first ever version of The Little Mermaid this Christmas.
With the first show going into rehearsal in a month’s time it really is full steam ahead for the team.
If you are interested in a further look behind the scenes check out the fortnightly Just Imagine Podcast which as well as interviews with the members of the Imagine HQ team includes guest interviews from the wide range of people we work with each year.
Imagine Theatre, Trafalgar House, 186 Torrington Avenue, Canley, Coventry, CV4 9AJ. T: +44 2476 307001
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