Swindon audiences can look forward to a night of outrageous comedy as the Market Theatre Company brings its hugely popular Adult Panto back to the Wyvern Theatre in January 2026.
Now in its 22nd year of touring, the Adult Panto has become a cult hit across the UK, delighting audiences with a mix of farce, innuendo, and slapstick comedy. What began in 1996 as a four-week run in the company’s small-scale venue in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has grown into a nationwide tour running for more than three months each year.
Artistic Director Kirk Foster explained the enduring appeal:
“The Adult Panto differs from others you might find in that it is much more of a farcical comedy play than a typical pantomime, twisted with adult references. It relies on the idea that a team of just three actors must play all the characters and tell the story while everything goes wrong around them – with lots of innuendo thrown in for good measure! The Adult Panto really does appeal to everyone from ages 18–80.”
Production Manager Glyn Doggett added:
“Feedback for our last show was incredible across social media, so we can’t wait to return to those venues we visited last year, plus a few new ones this year! One of the things I love about our adult pantos is that we are constantly surprising audiences with where we take the original story and characters. That’s part of what makes us different. It all ends in confusion, giving it a big farcical finish – which has become our trademark.”
Audiences can expect a fast-paced, cheeky, and laugh-out-loud evening that twists a familiar panto story into something completely unexpected.
For full tour details, visit www.markettheatre.co.uk.
