People and communities
A Tale as Old as Time comes to Walsall Arena & Arts Centre for Christmas 2026
Published on
Walsall Arena & Arts Centre has unveiled its magical Christmas pantomime for 2026, with the much-loved fairytale Beauty and the Beast set to delight audiences from Saturday 5 December to Sunday 20 December 2026.
Families, schools and community groups in Walsall and across the wider region are being invited to experience a festive adventure packed with laughter, music, audience participation and larger-than-life characters as the venue transforms into a world of magic and wonder this Christmas.
Produced by the team behind last year's record-breaking, sell-out Wizard of Oz pantomime, Beauty and the Beast promises all the traditional ingredients that audiences have come to expect from Walsall Arena & Arts Centre, including dazzling costumes, spectacular songs, energetic dance routines, laugh-out-loud comedy and plenty of opportunities to shout, "Oh yes, it is!" from the auditorium.
This enchanting family production follows Belle on an unforgettable journey that proves true beauty comes from within. Along the way, audiences will encounter a host of colourful original characters, including the energetic Dusty the Feather Duster, eccentric fortune teller Mystic Mug, gardening enthusiast Lady Pea-Patch, and the scheming Viscount Biscuit, whose plans to uncover the secrets of the Beast's castle threaten to turn the festive season upside down.
The Christmas pantomime programme plays an important role in supporting Walsall's cultural offering, providing affordable festive entertainment for local families while welcoming visitors to the borough during the holiday season.
With memorable characters, heartwarming storytelling and plenty of festive surprises, Beauty and the Beast is set to be one of the highlights of Walsall's Christmas calendar in 2026.
Performances take place from Saturday 5 December – Sunday 20 December 2026. Tickets on sale now on the Walsall Arena website and at the centre’s Box Office.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Walsall Arena & Arts Centre:
Walsall Arena and Arts Centre, Hawbush Road, Leamore, Walsall WS3 1AG | 0300 555 2898 | www.walsallarena.com
Box Office open Monday to Friday 10am - 2pm.
Walsall Arena is a multi-purpose performance space located in Leamore, just two miles from Walsall town centre and 10 minutes from Junction 10 of the M6. It hosts a diverse range of events from live pop music, tribute acts, orchestral concerts to theatre performances, pantomime and comedy. The Arena has multiple spaces to hire and can accommodate large scale performances, conferences, exhibitions along with smaller meetings and seminars.
About this year’s pantomime:
- Beauty and the Beast runs from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 December 2026 at Walsall Arena & Arts Centre.
- Tickets are priced from £15, with groups and schools booking rates available.
- A BSL-interpreted performance will take place on Sunday 6 December 2026.
- The production is presented by the team behind last year's sell-out panto.
