As The Victoria Theatre celebrate their 125th Anniversary year they confirm that Halifax’s favourite panto duo Andrew Pollard and Matthew Allen are set to return to pantoland
After wowing audiences and critics alike last year, the much-loved duo are back by popular demand, bringing their unmistakable chemistry once again to the stage. With the Halifax Courier last year calling their partnership a “dynamic pairing” and describing their performance as one with “infectious energy, adlibbing smoothly when needed and proving a huge hit with the audience." Aladdin promises to be an unmissable treat for all the family.
Highly acclaimed stage and screen actor Andrew’s three-decade career spans classical theatre, contemporary drama, television and film. A pantomime favourite, he is celebrated for his brilliantly crafted dames and of his return says: “I started my professional panto career in 1995 at the Victoria Theatre so it holds a special place in my heart and to be at home for Christmas after twenty years of playing up and down the country, is a special treat!”
Matthew’s career in theatre, television and film, has seen him appear on stage at the Royal Exchange Theatre and The Lowry, alongside national tours and BBC screen appearances adds: “The Victoria Theatre is such a magical place. I can't wait to get back. The theatre’s team and audience are so welcoming and just as silly as us on stage. Halifax becomes our home for Christmas.”
On working together again Andrew notes, “We have a similar sense of humour and it’s great team-work,” while Matthew jokes, “I eat snacks from his lunch box and put jelly in his normal shoes. But all jokes aside working with Andrew is a dream, we just bounce off each other and make each other laugh so much.”
Robert Marsden, Director of the panto says “It’s wonderful to be welcoming back Andrew Pollard as Dame and Matthew Allen as Comic for their second year together as a comedy partnership. They were firm favourites with the Halifax audiences last year in Beauty and the Beast, and I am very much forward to directing them this year in Aladdin”.
Tim Fagan, The Victoria Theatre Manager, says “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back Andrew and Matthew for our 125th Anniversary year. The Victoria Theatre has always been at the heart of Halifax’s festive celebrations, and after seeing the incredible bond they formed with our audiences last year, we knew we had to bring them back. This year’s Aladdin is the perfect way to celebrate our landmark anniversary—it’s going to be a magical, high-flying treat for everyone in Calderdale.”
Once again presented by the award- winning Imagine Theatre, Aladdin will be packed with side-splitting comedy, dazzling costumes, and show-stopping musical numbers - all the ingredients for the ultimate Christmas treat.
Will Aladdin outwit the wicked sorcerer, claim his fortune, and win the heart of his true love? Join us to find out in a spellbinding adventure bursting with laughter, wonder, and festive cheer.
Create unforgettable memories with friends and family over the festive season book your tickets now at victoriatheatre.co.uk before they fly out of the door!
Aladdin runs at the Victoria Theatre Halifax Friday 11 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
For tickets to Aladdin at The Victoria Theatre Halifax click here
ABOUT ANDREW POLLARD
Andrew trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and is an established stage and screen actor with over three decades of professional experience across classical theatre, contemporary drama, television, film and pantomime.
His theatre credits include: multiple productions of Around the World in 80 Days, playing Phileas Fogg at the New Vic, on Broadway at New Victory Theater, NYC, and at Asolo Rep, Florida. Also for the New Vic: Whatever Happened to Phoebe Salt and A Leap in the Dark. Other notable stage roles include Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Thomas Winter in Guy Fawkes (York Theatre Royal), Frank in Educating Rita, Professor Marcus in The Ladykillers, Pastor Manders in Ghosts, and leading roles in classics including The Importance of Being Earnest, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Rivals, King John, Macbeth, and The School for Scandal. He has worked extensively with Northern Broadsides, Theatre by the Lake, Oldham Coliseum and Hull Truck Theatre.
On television, credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Spooks, and BBC drama Womanhood. He appears as The Mayor in the Sky Original feature film Tinsel Town.
He is widely recognised for his long-standing association with pantomime, particularly at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax and Greenwich Theatre, London, where he has played a celebrated array of Dames and comic villains including Widow Twankey, Mother Goose, Dame in Sleeping Beauty, and Mrs Smee in Peter Pan. Andrew is also a talented writer penning many of the countries most notable pantomimes as well as CBeebies’ 2023 televised panto Robin Hood.
ABOUT MATTHEW ALLEN
Matthew Allen trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. Theatre Credits include Beauty and the Beast (Halifax Victoria Theatre), Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Nottingham) David Walliams’ Awful Auntie (UK and Ireland Tour) Brief Encounter (Royal Exchange Theatre), Aladdin (Esher Theatre), Our Town, Table for Six, The Space Between Us, A Dolls House, Rats Tales (Royal Exchange Theatre), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (The Lowry), Matthew Bourne's Lord of the Flies (The Lowry). Film and TV credits include; Odd Squad (BBC), Daddy’s Head (Stigma Films), Dexter Procter: The 10 year old Doctor (BBC/ Terrible Productions) and Doctors (BBC).
