Allan Stewart and Grant Stott will lead the cast as Edinburgh’s famous Christmas pantomime finally returns to the King’s Theatre for the first time since 2021.
The Adventures of Pinocchio will open at the historic Tollcross venue on 28 November, bringing the festive tradition back to its spiritual home following the theatre’s extensive redevelopment.
Stewart will return as panto dame May Geppetto, while Stott will once again take on villain duties as the evil Stromboli.
Jordan Young completes the familiar headline trio, taking the title role of Pinocchio in the new production, which will run until 17 January 2027.
They will be joined by Edinburgh panto favourite Clare Gray as Kitty the Cat and Bonnyrigg-born Gail Watson as Phyllis the Fox.
Musical theatre performer C.J. Borger, who has appeared in the West End production of Back to the Future: The Musical, joins the cast as Jiminy Cricket.
The return marks a significant moment for one of Edinburgh’s best-loved Christmas traditions.
The King’s Theatre closed for redevelopment in 2022, forcing its annual pantomime to relocate to Capital Theatres’ larger Festival Theatre.
Stewart, Stott and Young continued to headline the shows during the temporary move, with Jack and the Beanstalk bringing the Festival Theatre era to an end last Christmas.
Now the production is returning to the Leven Street theatre for its first panto there in five years.
The King’s itself reopened this summer following a redevelopment designed to protect the historic theatre while making major improvements to accessibility, backstage facilities and the auditorium.
The homecoming has even been incorporated into the plot of this year’s show.
The story has been specially adapted to celebrate the reopening of the King’s, with the theatre and its history becoming part of Pinocchio’s adventure.
Set in Toy Toon, May Geppetto and Pinocchio are attempting to raise enough money to reopen their beloved King’s Theatre.
Their efforts lead them to join the Great Stromboli’s travelling puppet show after he promises them a share of its takings.
The production will also feature new sets and costumes as the panto settles back into the venue with which it has been associated for generations.
Stewart has spent decades as one of Scotland’s best-known panto performers and earlier this year was named Best Dame at the UK Pantomime Awards for his performance in Jack and the Beanstalk.
Stott, meanwhile, has established himself as the regular villain of the Edinburgh production, while Young has become the third member of the long-running comedy partnership in recent years.
The Adventures of Pinocchio runs at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, from Saturday 28 November 2026 until Sunday 17 January 2027.