The London Cast of CATS THE MUSICAL 2026 at Open Air Theatre
March 26, 2026
They will join London Palladium royalty, Julian Clary, wand in hand as The Fairy Godfather, alongside Palladium Panto favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge, as London’s most spectacular pantomime returns to its most iconic theatre from Saturday 5 December 2026 – Sunday 10 January 2027.
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Thursday 2 April 2026.
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will reunite on the West End stage for the first time in 17 years as the wickedly hilarious Ugly Sisters. The beloved comedy duo has kept the nation laughing since the launch of their hit BBC sketch show, in which no celebrity or Hollywood blockbuster was safe from their razor-sharp satire, right through to their recent podcast success, French & Saunders: Titting About.
No strangers to the magic of pantomime at The London Palladium, Dawn French has appeared twice in Michael Harrison’s productions: first as Queen Dragonella in Snow White (2018/2019) and later as Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk (2022/2023). Jennifer Saunders made her Palladium pantomime debut in the 2023/2024 season of Peter Pan, delighting audiences as the dastardly Captain Hook.
Dawn and Jennifer said:
“We have wished to play the Ugly Sisters for so many years, it feels this is the fulfilment of a dream – a dream our hearts made. Watch out. It won’t be pretty.”
2026 marks the 11th year that Julian, Paul and Nigel have appeared in every single pantomime at the world-famous venue, since Harrison first revived the annual festive season tradition at the theatre with 2016’s Cinderella.
Rob Madge (Cabaret, My Son’s A Queer) is also back by popular demand, having made a triumphant debut in 2022’s Jack and the Beanstalk.
The principal company this year also welcomes acclaimed TV and theatre star Dex Lee (known for his long-running role in BBC 1’s Doctors and theatre credits including Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre) as Prince Charming, with musical theatre star Hope Dawe (Burlesque, Weird) stepping into the glass slippers as Cinderella. The fairytale couple are both set to make their debuts in The London Palladium Pantomime this Christmas.
French & Saunders as The Ugly Sisters
Julian Clary as The Fairy Godfather
Paul Zerdin as Zerdini
Nigel Havers as King Charmer
Rob Madge as Sequins
Dex Lee as Prince Charming
Hope Dawe as Cinderella
You shall go to the most magical ball in the land this Christmas as the world-famous London Palladium, invites you to the dazzling rags-to-riches fairytale Cinderella.
Expect the most spectacular costumes in Pantoland, sensational special effects, side-splitting comedy and all the magic that has made The London Palladium the true home of pantomime for the past decade.
Last year’s 10th anniversary production of Sleeping Beauty broke the Palladium Pantomime’s own record for the biggest ever audience across a 5-week season, with more than 137,000 patrons attending the show, breaking the previous record of 132,000 for Robin Hood in 2024, in turn making the show the highest grossing pantomime of all time and achieving the highest-grossing week for any show at the box office of the iconic venue.
Set designs by Mark Walters
Costume designs by Hugh Durrant, Teresa Nalton and Mike Coltman created especially for The London Palladium
Choreography by Karen Bruce
Visual special effects by The Twins FX
Lighting designs by Ben Cracknell
Sound designs by Matt Peploe
Composition and orchestrations by George Dyer.
