BEN THORNTON & JOE FEENEY LEAD FRESH NEW CAST OF LICHFIELD GARRICK PANTOMIME: ROBIN HOOD

The Lichfield Garrick transforms into Sherwood Forest from 20th November – 10th January for its first in-house produced pantomime in over a decade - and with a truly close-knit cast & crew, this year is direct from the Garrick family to yours...

2026 marked a significant year for the Garrick: the theatre produced its first ever in-house musical, Disenchanted!, which went onto achieve riotous success at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, Lichfield District Council extended the Garrick’s lease (securing the theatre's future for years to come), and the Garrick continued to invest in its outreach efforts with the official launch of its Arts-Council-backed project, Creative Burntwood. What was once just an arts venue, is now a bustling hub for creativity.

But what does this mean for its 2026 pantomime?

And there’s no doubt he’ll spot some familiar faces... Last year’s offering increased audience retention by nearly a quarter (meaning more families are returning to the Garrick than ever before). This year, Thornton is keen to make the Garrick feel like home again for thousands of returning families and schoolchildren across the festive period. “I love the people of Lichfield”, says Ben with a cheeky grin, “especially if they get involved!” And with the warm familiarity of Thornton, there’s no reason not to shout out, laugh out loud, and boo to your hearts content!

What's better than one Ben? Two! This year, the Garrick offers double the laughter, double the fun, and double the Ben... The shoes of a pantomime dame are almost too large to fill, but this year, the Garrick brings in a Great British Pantomime Award Winner, a veteran singer and actor who can hold his own in front of 25,000 people, and an undeniable talent with countless professional credits to his name: the wonderfully enigmatic Ben Stock. 

For Stock, his favourite thing about panto-land is the “joy on people’s faces” as he watches from the wings as the cast and crew bring the magic to life. Stock has performed for crowds in the middle of Trafalgar Square, released two full albums (including Ben Stock sings Noel Coward), and has even been a regular showbiz reporter on BBC Radio Bristol (where he grew up). There's no doubt he'll delight audiences at the Garrick as he steps into Nurse Nellie's infamous frock.

And this year’s homegrown panto relies on the crew really rallying together behind the scenes. An incredible tech team is led by Adie Barnes, the man behind the Garrick’s most significant technical advancement in over 20 years with the introduction of a cutting-edge LED lighting system earlier in 2026. Daniel Buckroyd, Garrick CEO and Artistic Director, finds himself at the helm of this year’s extravaganza, while the effervescent John Brooking leads on design and costume—much of the latter being tirelessly handstitched by a wonderful & talented team who call the Garrick home on a yearly basis.

Rosie Napper’s, Morganna, dons a devilishly triumphant headpiece that swishes and swirls with every callous entrance and exit; Stock’s Nurse Nellie sports a red fringed gown adorned with more polka dots than the Dorothy Perkins summer sale; Eliza Waters is picture perfect in more muted floral gown for her Maid Marian; Ashley Cavender’s Merlin sports a gloriously loud costume with just as many stars as the Hollywood walk of fame; Joe Feeney returns ready for battle as the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, while Thornton’s Robin Hood and Anna Soden’s Bluebell (Robin Hood’s sister if you didn't know) blend into the forest with complimentary greens.

Though this year promises to offer fresh new faces alongside the familiarity of Thornton and Feeney, Rosie Napper and Eliza Waters are no strangers to the Garrick. Waters once worked at the Garrick as a Deputy Stage Manager before graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2019. “It feels so crazy to be stood here now”, says Eliza as she steps out of the wings to the Garrick stage. Elsewhere Napper has already won over the hearts of Garrick audiences playing Cinderella in Disenchanted! and with her infectious smile, she remarks “I’m thrilled to be back.”