Tom Lister’s Captain Hook in the poster for The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook
EMMERDALE star Tom Lister is Hooking up with the Grand Opera House to make his York pantomime debut in The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook from December 5 to January 3 2027.
Stage and screen actor Lister, 47, best known for his eight years as bad lad Carl King in the Yorkshire soap from 2004 to 2012, will be in villainous mode anew as Captain Hook, performing alongside the already confirmed comedic returnee Jimmy Bryant as Smee in the UK Productions show.
Born Thomas Brown in Ingleton, Yorkshireman Lister took his mother’s maiden name when turning professional. Since graduating from Birmingham School of Acting in 2001, he has played Harry Wainwright in Heartbeat and Rob Ingram in The Bill, as well as appearing in Doctors and Hollyoaks and taking on the guise of jazz pianist Jamie Cullum on Stars In Their Eyes.
On leaving Emmerdale in October 2012, he played Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Sundreland Empire that winter and has since branched out into musical theatre as Grimes in the world premiere of Water Babies at Curve, Leicester, in April 2014, subsequently appearing as Wild Bill Hickoc in the 2014 UK tour of Calamity Jane, as well as in 42nd Street in the West End and Legally Blonde The Musical.
He will be on familiar panto terrain once more as Captain Hook this winter, having won the Best Villain prize at the inaugural Great British Pantomime Awards in 2017 for his performance in Peter Pan in the 2016-2017 season at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.
“I’m so excited to be sailing into York this Christmas as Captain Hook,” says Tom. “He’s a role I love, and I swear he gets more wicked and mischievous every year I play him!
“As a Yorkshireman, York is very close to my heart, and I can’t wait to spend Christmas in this beautiful city. I am really looking forward to teaming up with Jimmy Bryant to bring all of the festive magic and mayhem of panto. So come aboard and join us, or you’ll be walking the plank.”
Producer Martin Dodd adds: “We’re delighted that the wonderfully charismatic Tom Lister will be appearing as the deliciously devilish Captain Hook in this year’s pantomime. Tom brings real star quality to Neverland. Paired with the brilliantly funny Jimmy Bryant as Smee, audiences can expect a perfect storm of comedy, adventure and just a touch of villainous charm.”
The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hookwill run at the Grand Opera House, York, from December 5 to January 3 2027. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Tommy Carmichael in the poster announcing his return to the York Theatre Royal pantomime in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
THE funny fixtures are in place for both the 2026-27 York Theatre Royal and Grand Opera House pantomimes.
After Jimmy Bryant was confirmed for a second season in UK Productions’ The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook, playing Smee from December 5 to January 3 at the Cumberland Street theatre, now Tommy Carmichael has signed up for a third winter of daft-lad tomfoolery in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs at the Theatre Royal.
After starring as ever-cheerful Charlie in Aladdin in 2024 and Jangles in Sleeping Beauty last Christmas, Doncaster-born Carmichael will play Muddles, reuniting once more with regular panto dame Robin Simpson.
Tommy Carmichael’s Jangles with panto dame Robin Simpson’s Nurse Nellie in York Theatre Royal’s 2025-26 pantomime Aladdin. Picture: S R Taylor Photography
Now based in Livingston, near Edinburgh, Carmichael has played Timternet in Big Strong Man (national tour), Silly Willy in Robin Hood (The Maltings, Ely), Chief Weasel in The Wind In The Willows (national tour), “Himself” in Big Strong Man (CAST, Doncaster), Buttons in Cinderella (The Maltings, Ely), Queen Of Hearts in Alice In Wonderland (national tour) and Bagheera in The Jungle Book (national tour).
Written by Paul Hendy and directed by Theatre Royal creative director Juliet Forster, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs will be co-produced with award-winning Evolution Productions, the team behind such York pantomimes as Jack And The Beanstalk, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty.
Juliet says: “We are delighted to have Tommy back with us for Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs this year! Robin [Simpson] and Tommy have such a fabulous energy and comedic rapport when they’re on stage together and we know audiences will love having them back to bring all the laughs once again.
Tommy Carmichael: Actor and children’s theatre tutor
“Feedback from last year was just so brilliant and we already have performances which are closing to selling out, so it’s never too early to get your tickets.”
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs will run from December 4 to January 3, with the promise of “lavish costumes, stunning sets, hilarious jokes and dazzling special effects”.
Family tickets are available for all performances with savings of up to £61 on bookings for four tickets. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
The Grand Opera House poster for 2026 pantomime The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook
THE Grand Opera House pantomime for next winter will be The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook, setting sail under UK Productions livery in York from December 5 2026 to January 3 2027.
Join Peter Pan, Hook, Smee, Tinker Bell, Emily Darling and Ethel the Mermaid on a new adventure full of audience interaction, flying effects, giggles galore and a snappy crocodile.
Life has been smooth sailing for Peter Pan since he defeated Captain Hook, or so he thought. Whispers are spreading that the notorious Hook survived those stormy seas and is out for revenge. Could it be true? Watch out…he might be right behind you in this action-packed adventure.
“Get ready for gravity-defying flying scenes, stunning choreography and mind- blowing special effects that will leave you gasping,” says the Grand Opera House show announcement. “Pirate sword fights, crocodile chases and jaw-dropping stunts bring Neverland to life like you’ve never seen before!
“Bursting with hilarious jokes, show-stopping songs and non-stop action, this is the pantomime event of the year – and you won’t want to miss it.”
Star casting will be announced, but for early birds who want the worm, tickets go on sale today for ATG+ card holders and general sale on Tuesday at agtickets.com/york. The early bird offer will run until February 1.
THE Grand Opera House pantomime for next winter will be The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook, setting sail in York from December 5 2026 to January 3 2027.
Join Peter Pan, Hook, Smee, Tinker Bell, Emily Darling and Ethel the Mermaid on a new adventure full of audience interaction, flying effects, giggles galore and a snappy crocodile.
Life has been smooth sailing for Peter Pan since he defeated Captain Hook, or so he thought. Whispers are spreading that the notorious Hook survived those stormy seas and is out for revenge. Could it be true? Watch out…he might be right behind you in this action-packed adventure.
“Get ready for gravity-defying flying scenes, stunning choreography and mind- blowing special effects that will leave you gasping,” says the Grand Opera House show announcement. “Pirate sword fights, crocodile chases and jaw-dropping stunts bring Neverland to life like you’ve never seen before!
“Bursting with hilarious jokes, show-stopping songs and non-stop action, this is the pantomime event of the year – and you won’t want to miss it.”
Star casting will be announced but for early birds who want the worm, tickets go on sale today for ATG+ card holders and general sale on Tuesday at agtickets.com/york. The early bird offer will run until February 1.
Musical actor Bradley Judge heads from Leeds to York to play Dandini in Cinderella
Bradley Judge
LEEDS lad Bradley Judge completes the Grand Opera House principal cast for Cinderella at the Grand Opera House, York, in the role of Dandini.
Bradley has wowed audiences in the West End and on the regional circuit in Sister Act, Hairspray, Joseph And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Grease and pantomimes such as Aladdin.
Bradley says: “I’m delighted to be appearing at the Grand Opera House over the festive period as Dandini in the fabulous Cinderella! As a Yorkshire lad, performing so close to home gives me so much joy and pride. Let’s have a reet good Yorkshire Christmas!”
Judge is performing in Ellis Kerkhoven’s star-studded by Lisa George (Coronation Street) as Fairy Godmother, Tobias Turley (ITV’s Mamma Mia I Have A Dream) as Prince Charming, and West End actress Rachel Grundy (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Legally Blonde and Starlight Express) as Cinderella.
Bringing the mayhem are West End drag duo Luke Attwood and Brandon Nicholson as naughty Ugly Sisters Harmony and Melody Hard-Up, joined in the comedy corner by Jimmy Bryant’s Buttons.
Cinderella runs until Sunday, January 4 2026. Box office: atgtickets.com/york. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Director Ellis Kerkhoven: back story
AWARD-WINNING theatre director, writer and lyricist. After graduating from Guildford School of Acting, he has built a vibrant career across traditional and immersive theatre, committed to developing his passion for collaborative, ensemble-based theatre making.
Credits include: co-stage director and creative direction for Opening Ceremony of Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo; associate director, resident director and performance-capture director for Disney – The Castle (Riyadh Season, Saudi Arabia); director & script adaptor of ETTIE award-winning and OFFIE-nominated new musical Stranger Sings! (Southwark Playhouse, The Vaults, London & UK Tour).
Pantomime direction & dramaturgy includes: Beauty And The Beast and Jack And The Beanstalk (co-director, Hereford Courtyard – Best Direction winner and Best Script nominations at British Panto Awards).
Collaborations with Singapore Repertory Theatre: Charlotte’s Web (Straits Times Award nomination for Best Play); Nursery Crimes and Playmakers.
For more than a decade, he has written and directed large-scale, original musicals for British Youth Music Theatre, nurturing the next generation of performers and creatives. Credits include: Nightshade, The Midnight Flower Press, ALICE In Wanderlust and Maelstrom – Legends Of The Underworld.
“I am delighted to be directing Cinderella this year here in York,” he says.
