We are thrilled to announce that The Georgian Theatre Royal has been nominated for Best Script in the UK Pantomime Association’s Pantomime Awards 2025 for its recent production of Treasure Island.
The annual awards, often referred to as the ‘pantomime Oscars,’ celebrate excellence in the genre, with this year’s winners announced at a star-studded ceremony on Sunday, 13 April at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking.
Our very own CEO, Jo Mawhinney, wrote and directed the sell-out hit Treasure Island, which broke box office records and was hugely popular with audiences and critics alike.
“It’s an absolute honour to be nominated,” said Jo Mawhinney. “The Theatre is very proud of its pantomime and this cherished tradition brings joy to audiences young and old. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Treasure Island which is naturally a story brimming with fun, action, and adventure.
I am so grateful to our dedicated production and front of house teams, volunteers and cast for bringing the script to life in what was an amazing and magical show. In particular, I’d also like to acknowledge the creative input of Jake Mawhinney, whose fresh ideas and thoughtful insights played a key role in shaping the final script. His support – and endless supply of humour! – was truly invaluable,” she added.
The Theatre is no stranger to success at these awards. In 2022, it was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Newcomer for Marcus Jones' role as George Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Last year, Marcus received a further nomination for Best Secondary Lead for his portrayal of Jimmy Prince Charming in Rapunzel.
The UK Pantomime Association’s judging panel visited 216 venues across the UK during the 2024-25 season, watching over 496 performances to select this year’s nominees. The awards celebrate the dedication and talent of those both on and offstage who work tirelessly to create outstanding productions.
The Theatre has been producing its own pantomimes since 2010 and has built a reputation both regionally and nationally for its top-quality festive productions. Sleeping Beauty was named one of The Observer’s top festive shows of 2018, while The Telegraph crowned the Theatre the No.1 place to see a pantomime in the UK in 2015. Treasure Island was also featured on BBC’s The One Show for its much-loved community knitting project.
Looking ahead, you can now book tickets for this year’s pantomime, Cinderella, which runs from 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. Book online at www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01748 825252.