A BBC report released this morning shows that Yorkshire and Lincolnshire theatres gained between 9% and 45% of their annual income from pantomimes last year.

James Harrison, 32, has been Musical Director at Sheffield Theatre’s pantomime for the past six years.

He said: “We have regulars who always sit in the same seat, in the same place. It’s tradition and I love to be part of that. 

“Gone are the days of people thinking that panto is a bit rubbish because we prove that it doesn’t have to be.”

The BBC report also shows that theatres have seen a 4% increase in audience numbers from 2019 to 2024.

Simon Sladen, 39, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association, explained that panto is many children’s first theatre experience, adding to its sentimentality.

He said: “Since Covid, the longing to be together has strengthened this Christmas tradition for many people, and introduced a new one for people who might not have gone before.”

Mr Sladen dubbed pantomime “Britain’s favourite artform,” with over 260 put on around the UK each year.

Jill Ellis, 57, a teacher at Hunter’s Bar Infant School, said the school takes its entire student body to the Sheffield Lyceum panto every year.

She said: “It is a tradition, but I think it’s popular because it’s a tradition.

“The kids look forward to it because we do it every year and their older siblings will have talked about it. It’s a shared experience.”

Mr Sladen explained how pantomime supports the local economy beyond just theatres, providing learning outreach or volunteering projects with the revenue.

Local shops and restaurants can also benefit from a pantomime coming to town.

Mr Sladen said: “We’ve just had a big research project which showed that the capacity at pantomimes across the country is over 80%.

“The 2025 season is great and the respect pantomime is getting is growing.”