Gatehouse Panto bags national award

Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre is celebrating after winning a national pantomime award.

Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre is celebrating after winning a national pantomime award for the first time in its history.

The theatre’s Kate O’Brien won Best Sound for JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at the National Pantomime Awards in Woking on Sunday evening (13th April 2025).

The production pulled in a record audience at the Eastgate Street venue, with almost 19,000 people attending the show over the Christmas and New Year period.

Critics raved about the show, which was co-produced with Imagine Theatre, one of Britain’s top pantomime production companies.

Gatehouse General Manager Gary Stevens said:

‘We’ve been nominated for panto awards over the past few years, but this is the first time we’ve ever won a national award and we’re all very proud. Kate did a fantastic job on JACK AND THE BEANSTALK and was ably supported by our other back of house staff, particularly Bobby Standley on our Sound Desk.

‘Against stiff competition right across the country, winning is an amazing achievement for Stafford and it’s great to see our creative talent recognised in this way.’

Imagine’s Eric Potts, who wrote the JACK AND THE BEANSTALK script, accepted the award on behalf of Kate at the event organised by the UK Pantomime Association.

Preparations are already well under way for this year’s pantomime, SLEEPING BEAUTY (Dec 5 to Jan 4), with more than 2,500 tickets already snapped up.

Cast announcements are due in the near future as the theatre aims to break the 20,000 attendance barrier for the first time ever.

You can book now by calling the Gatehouse Theatre box office on 01785 619080, or you can click the link: GATEHOUSE THEATRE BOX OFFICE