Imagine Theatre Celebrates Success at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026

The magic of pantomime was firmly in the spotlight on Sunday 19 April 2026, as the UK Pantomime Association hosted the fifth annual UK Pantomime Awards at the Wycombe Swan Theatre. Bringing together producers, performers and creatives from across the country, the glittering evening celebrated the very best of British panto—and it was a night to remember for Imagine Theatre.

A National Celebration of Pantomime Excellence

Presented by Vernon Kay and staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment, the ceremony honoured outstanding achievements both on stage and behind the scenes. From performers and designers to producers and production teams, the awards recognise the passion, innovation and scale of creativity that make pantomime such a treasured part of UK theatre culture.

For Imagine Theatre, the evening represented not only a chance to celebrate the wider industry, but also to reflect on a hugely successful season that reached hundreds of thousands of audiences across the UK.

Imagine Theatre: Nominations That Spanned the Industry

Earlier this year, Imagine Theatre was proud to receive multiple UK Pantomime Award nominations, reinforcing its reputation as one of the UK’s leading pantomime producers. These nominations reflected excellence across a wide range of disciplines, from creative and technical achievement to performance and production values, highlighting the depth of talent within the Imagine Theatre family.

The nominations spanned productions staged in venues across the country, further underlining Imagine Theatre’s commitment to delivering high‑quality, large‑scale pantomime experiences for audiences of all ages.

Award Wins on the Night

The evening culminated in two major award wins for Imagine Theatre, a fantastic recognition of the company’s creative excellence and collaborative spirit.

🏆 Best Costumes

James MacIver – Sleeping Beauty
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

James MacIver’s dazzling costume designs for Sleeping Beauty were recognised with the Best Costumes award. Known for combining bold visual storytelling with traditional panto flair, the designs played a crucial role in bringing the production’s magical world to life, delighting audiences throughout the season.

🏆 Best Sisters

Hannah Roberts & Fran Cottington (Han and Fran) – Cinderella
Venue Cymru, Llandudno

The award for Best Sisters went to Hannah Roberts and Fran Cottington, widely known as Han and Fran, for their uproariously funny and brilliantly performed roles in Cinderella. Their chemistry, comic timing and audience connection made them stand‑out favourites and worthy winners on the night.

A Team Effort Worth Celebrating

Steve and Sarah Boden, Joint CEOs of Imagine Theatre, spoke about the significance of the evening and what the awards represent for the wider pantomime community:

“The UK Pantomime Awards once again enabled us to come together with colleagues from across venues and production to celebrate the extraordinary, much‑loved juggernaut that is pantomime… We were incredibly proud to be among them, all working with passion and commitment to deliver brilliant seasonal entertainment for audiences of all ages.” [trafalgare...inment.com]

Their words capture what lies at the heart of Imagine Theatre, collaboration, creativity, and a deep respect for the artform and the people who bring it to life.

Looking Ahead

The success at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026 marks another milestone in Imagine Theatre’s ongoing journey. With a proud track record of producing large‑scale, high‑quality pantomimes across more than 50 venues nationwide, the company remains committed to creating magical theatre experiences that entertain generations of families year after year.

As planning continues for future seasons, these awards—and the nominations behind them, serve as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when creativity, craftsmanship and passion come together.

Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to the UK Pantomime Association for continuing to champion this uniquely British and much‑loved artform.