THE Big Pembrokeshire Pantomime has celebrated its most successful season to date, as Aladdin proved to be a runaway festive hit, playing to packed houses throughout December.

With an exceptional 98 per cent of tickets sold across the entire run, Aladdin welcomed over 6,000 audience members, making it the largest and most successful pantomime production in the company’s history. Audiences from across Pembrokeshire and beyond flocked to the show, praising its high-energy performances, lavish production values, and unmistakable community spirit.

The production starred Drew Baker as the much-loved Widow Twankey, Rhys Williams as the ever-popular Wishee Washee, and featured a standout performance from Gareth Thomas as the Genie – whose appearance was met with nightly cheers and rave audience reactions.

Red Dragon Reviews critic Liam Dearden described Aladdin as “a wish-granting, lamp-rubbing delight that proves once again why pantomime holds such a special place in our festive traditions.”

Elaborating, he said: From Widow Twankey’s chaotic laundrette to the glittering Cave of Wonders, this production is pure sparkle, slapstick, and heart.”

“The cast’s energy, the clever script sprinkled with cheeky innuendos, and the spectacular costumes and staging are only part of the enchantment; the local young performers, many taking their first steps into the performing arts, infuse every scene with colour, movement, and joy,” Dearden added in his extensive review.

Giving it a full five stars, Michelle Evans-Fecci called it “a must-see” and added: “Aladdin was loud, sparkly and absolutely brilliant.”

“The kids absolutely loved it,” said one audience member, while another commented: “Incredible Panto, thank you so much for helping us make memories and bringing smiles to our faces.”

Rhys Williams, Producer of Aladdin, said: “We knew Aladdin was special, but the response has completely blown us away. To see audiences filling the theatre night after night, laughing, cheering and leaving with smiles on their faces is exactly why we do this.

“The cast, creatives, musicians, technicians, chaperones and volunteers have been extraordinary, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved together.”

Creative Director and star of the production, Drew Baker, added: “This pantomime was something really special for Pembrokeshire. The energy from our audiences was electric, and the love shown to our cast and team has been overwhelming. Aladdin was bigger, bolder and braver than ever before, and that success belongs to every single person who helped bring it to life.”

Building on the momentum of this record-breaking season, the Big Pembs Panto returns for a swashbuckling festive season in 2026! Excitement is already mounting for Peter Pan, the next Big Pembrokeshire Pantomime. With three performances already sold out and the majority of school performances close to capacity, demand is once again proving stronger than ever. For booking details, head to https://www.bigpembspanto.com/bookhere or call 01437 723493.

As the organisation heads into the new year, the success of Aladdin stands as a powerful testament to the strength of local theatre, the appetite for live performance, and the magic that can be created when a community comes together.