Pantomime & Christmas Show Design
Panto & Christmas show design that fills seats and delights audiences
For many theatres, their panto or Christmas show is the biggest production of the year. It’s the show that introduces new audiences to the theatre, drives ticket sales and creates lasting memories for families who return year after year.
That means the creative has to do more than simply look festive. From the first casting announcement to the final performance, every touchpoint should build excitement and encourage audiences through the doors.
We work with theatres to create memorable campaigns for pantos and Christmas shows, developing everything from title treatments and key artwork to programmes and campaign rollouts that work seamlessly across print, digital and venue marketing.
How we approach panto & Christmas show design
Creative built around your production
Every panto or Christmas show has its own personality.
Some celebrate tradition, while others put a contemporary spin on familiar stories. Some are built around celebrity casting, while others rely on spectacular staging and timeless storytelling.
We take the time to understand your production, your audience and your marketing objectives before developing a unique creative identity for your production. From typography and illustration to photography and colour palettes, every element is designed to capture the spirit of your show while giving your marketing team a flexible set of assets they can use throughout the campaign.
From title treatment to campaign rollout
Once the creative direction is established, it needs to work everywhere.
We create adaptable campaign assets that can be rolled out consistently across every audience touchpoint, including:
- Title treatments and key artwork
- Posters and outdoor advertising design
- Show programmes
- Season brochures
- Social media assets
- Website graphics and digital advertising
- Email campaigns
- Tickets and hospitality materials
Designed with production in mind
Great creative is only part of the story. Delivering it cost-effectively is just as important.
Because we work closely with Bishops Printers and The Mailing People, we can support every stage of production, from artwork through to print and distribution. Production requirements, paper stocks, specialist finishes and mailing logistics are considered from the outset, helping reduce friction, maintain quality and ensure every campaign asset arrives exactly where it needs to, when it needs to.
Whether you’re producing a simple stitched programme or a premium publication with specialist finishes, we understand what’s achievable across different budgets and timelines and will help you make informed decisions from day one.
An extension of your marketing team
Casting announcements, photography, sponsor approvals and artwork updates all happen against immovable opening-night deadlines.
We become an extension of your team, providing responsive creative support throughout the campaign. You’ll have a dedicated account manager coordinating design, print and mailing, with our online proofing system keeping feedback organised, approvals moving and stakeholders aligned.
Rather than juggling multiple suppliers, you’ll have one experienced team managing the process from concept to delivery, allowing you to focus on selling tickets and delivering a memorable production.
FAQs
What is pantomime and Christmas show design?
Do you design campaigns for Christmas shows as well as pantomimes?
Yes. We work with theatres on both traditional pantomimes and other Christmas productions.
Whether you’re staging a classic panto, family Christmas show, musical, festive adaptation or something less traditional, we develop the creative around the individual production, its audience and your marketing objectives.
What can you create for a panto or Christmas show campaign?
We can develop the complete creative campaign or support you with individual elements. This can include title treatments, key artwork, posters, outdoor advertising, programmes, season brochures, social media assets, website graphics, digital advertising, email campaigns, tickets and hospitality materials.
By developing these assets from a consistent creative direction, your campaign remains recognisable from the first announcement through to the final performance.
Can you create a bespoke visual identity for our production?
Yes. We develop creative identities specifically around individual productions rather than relying on a standard festive template.
We’ll consider your story, audience, theatre, casting and marketing objectives before exploring elements such as typography, illustration, photography and colour. The result is a creative direction that feels distinctive to your production while remaining flexible enough for your marketing team to use throughout the campaign.
Can you design our pantomime or Christmas show programme?
Yes. We design programmes that complement the wider campaign while giving audiences something engaging to enjoy and take home.
Programmes can incorporate cast and production information, photography, editorial content, advertising and activities for younger audiences. We can also help you explore formats, finishes and print options that balance production costs with the potential to generate additional revenue.
Can you include children's activities in our programme?
Yes. We have a library of children’s games, puzzles and activities that can be incorporated into your programme.
They’re a simple way to add extra value for families and entertain younger audience members without creating additional content for your team to produce.
Can you design for both print and digital channels?
Yes. Our campaigns are designed to work across print, digital and in-venue marketing.
Once the core creative direction is established, we can adapt it for everything from posters, brochures and programmes to social media, websites, digital advertising and email campaigns. This helps create a consistent audience experience across the whole campaign.
Can you help with printing our show programmes and marketing materials?
Yes. We work closely with Bishops Printers, which means print production can be considered from the beginning of the design process rather than as an afterthought.
We can help you choose appropriate formats, paper stocks and finishes for your budget, from cost-effective stitched programmes to premium publications incorporating specialist finishes.
Can you help keep programme printing costs down?
Yes. We understand that programme unit cost can have a direct impact on the revenue generated from programme sales.
Our relationship with Bishops Printers enables us to offer competitive programme printing while helping you make informed decisions about format, pagination, paper and finishing. The aim is to achieve the right balance between a programme audiences want to buy and a production cost that works commercially.
Can you create premium or personalised programmes?
Yes. If you want to make your programme feel particularly special, we can explore premium papers, specialist print finishes and personalised elements.
This could include digitally printed covers for VIPs or other variations alongside the main programme run. Because design and print are planned together, these details can be considered early and incorporated efficiently.
How do you handle last-minute casting or artwork changes?
We know theatre campaigns rarely stand still. Casting announcements, photography, sponsor requirements and production details can all change as opening night approaches.
We build flexibility into the campaign from the outset and provide responsive creative support when updates are needed. Our online proofing process also helps keep feedback centralised and reduces confusion between different artwork versions.
Can you manage design, print and distribution?
Yes. We can support the process from initial creative concepts and artwork through to print and distribution.
Working closely with Bishops Printers and The Mailing People means production and mailing requirements can be considered alongside the design. It gives you one connected team managing the process rather than having to coordinate several separate suppliers.
Explore our work with theatres
Hull Truck Theatre: Title Treatments
Discover how we created bespoke title treatments for Hull Truck Theatre, giving each production a distinctive identity across print and digital.
Circomedia
Find out how we refreshed Circomedia’s brand identity to better reflect their inclusive arts ethos and vibrant community spirit.
Park Theatre: Whodunnit
We designed eye-catching visuals for Park Theatre’s key fundraiser, boosting engagement and supporting their community-focused mission
The Home of
Great Design
Call 023 9233 4971
Email studio@tgdh.co.uk
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9am – 5:30pm.
Bank holidays, closed.
Visit
The Graphic Design house
Walton Road
Farlington
Portsmouth
Hampshire
P06 1TR


