Witney's panto is Sleeping Beauty at the Corn Exchange, 18 to 31 December, £16. Chipping Norton's Snow Queen runs 18 November to 17 January, from £18.

Witney’s own pantomime this Christmas is Sleeping Beauty, staged by Buttercross Theatre Productions at the Corn Exchange from Friday 18 to Thursday 31 December 2026, with tickets at £16. Twenty minutes up the road, The Theatre Chipping Norton’s professional panto, The Snow Queen, runs much longer, from 18 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with tickets from £18. Both are on sale.

The quick answer

  • Witney: Sleeping Beauty, Corn Exchange, 18 to 31 December, £16.
  • Chipping Norton: The Snow Queen, 18 November to 17 January, £18 to £46 depending on the performance.
  • Chippy’s relaxed performances: Friday 27 November at 11am, Thursday 10 December at 4pm and Tuesday 5 January at 10am.

The two local pantomimes compared

Sleeping Beauty The Snow Queen
Venue Corn Exchange, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AB The Theatre, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton OX7 5NL
Company Buttercross Theatre Productions The Theatre Chipping Norton
Run 18 to 31 December 2026 18 November 2026 to 17 January 2027
Tickets £16 £18 to £46, booking fees included
Box office 01993 704379 01608 642350

Sleeping Beauty at the Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange listing gives the run as 18 to 31 December 2026 and a general ticket price of £16. The story is the traditional one: Princess Aurora, cursed by the wicked Carabosse, the Good Fairies softening the curse, and a prince. The company promises comedy, costumes, musical numbers and plenty of audience participation.

Buttercross Theatre Productions, which also staged Cluedo at the Corn Exchange this September, calls the panto its “much-loved annual pantomime”. Neither the venue nor the company has published the individual performance times yet, so check the booking page before you plan around a particular day.

The Corn Exchange is run by Witney Town Council and seats up to 131 on tiered seating, so this is a small-hall panto where every seat is close to the stage.

The Snow Queen at Chipping Norton

The Theatre Chipping Norton’s panto is one of the best-known in the county. This year’s, The Snow Queen, is written by Toby Hulse, directed by Caroline Leslie, with music by Paul Herbert. The Snow Queen cancels Christmas in the town of Kristingle and kidnaps Kai, and Gerda sets off to rescue him with her mum, Dame Candy Cane. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and the theatre recommends it for ages 4 to 104.

Prices fall into three bands, all including booking fees:

Band Price range When
Peak £34 to £46 Weekends from 28 November, the December adults-only Fridays, and every show from 19 December to 2 January
Standard £26 to £38 Some December weekday evenings and most January weekend shows
Off-peak £18 to £30 The opening weekend, school-day matinees and some January weekday shows

Concessions apply in the standard and off-peak bands for under-16s, people on Disability Allowance, Unwaged Allowance or Pension Credit, NUS card holders and NHS workers. Buy 14 tickets and the 15th is free, except in the peak band.

Key dates in the run:

  • Previews: Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November at 6pm.
  • Relaxed performances: Friday 27 November at 11am, Thursday 10 December at 4pm, and Tuesday 5 January at 10am.
  • Audio described: Saturday 28 November at 2pm, with a touch tour at 1pm.
  • Captioned: Saturday 5 December at 2pm.
  • Adults only (18+): Friday 4 December at 6pm, Friday 11 December at 7pm, and Fridays 8 and 15 January at 7pm.
  • Christmas Eve: 11am and 4pm. No shows on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
  • Last performance: Sunday 17 January at 4pm.

Further afield: Oxford

The Oxford Playhouse panto is Snow White, written by Sarah Henley and directed by Mike Tweddle, from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is recommended for ages 5 and up, and babies under 18 months can have a free lap ticket. The Playhouse has not listed prices on the show page.

For getting into Oxford by bus over Christmas, see our Christmas trains and buses page, and for an evening show in Witney itself, our parking in Witney page lists the car parks nearest Market Square.

Still to be confirmed

  • Performance times for Sleeping Beauty, which the Corn Exchange and Buttercross have not yet published.
  • Oxford Playhouse ticket prices.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Witney pantomime in 2026? Sleeping Beauty, by Buttercross Theatre Productions at the Corn Exchange, from 18 to 31 December 2026. Tickets are £16.

When is the Chipping Norton panto 2026? The Snow Queen runs from 18 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 at The Theatre Chipping Norton.

How much are Chipping Norton panto tickets? From £18 off-peak to £46 at peak times, booking fees included.

Is there a relaxed panto performance? Yes, at Chipping Norton on 27 November at 11am, 10 December at 4pm and 5 January at 10am.

Sources