Help light up our stage this Christmas – knit a star for Cinderella’s magical panto moment!
It’s that magical time of year again here at The Georgian Theatre Royal – our much-loved pantomime knitting campaign has officially launched! And this year’s project is truly out of this world.
To celebrate our sparkling 2025 production of Cinderella, we’re inviting everyone to get involved by knitting or crocheting stars to be thrown onto the stage during the show. These little handmade creations are a key part of our pantomime tradition – they’re launched by the audience at a special moment in the performance, echoing the lively spirit of the Georgian era. The moment always raises a cheer and brings smiles to faces young and old.
The tradition began back in 2011 with a call for knitted bananas for The Adventures of Sinbad. Since then, we’ve had everything from doughnuts and snowballs to apples, hearts, fish, and even ice creams – each one inspired by the story being told on stage. What started locally has now grown into a global phenomenon, with knitted items arriving from all over the UK and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
Last year, our Treasure Island knitting campaign was even featured on BBC’s The One Show, putting this joyful tradition firmly in the national spotlight – and we couldn’t have been prouder.
This year’s chosen item – the star – feels especially fitting. As Theatre Manager and Cinderella director Jo Mawhinney explained: “Each star will represent the care and creativity of our incredible knitting community, who help make the Theatre feel so special every Christmas.” Jo added that people had already been getting in touch asking what they’ll be making this year, and she was keen to reassure everyone: “Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or picking up your needles for the first time, we welcome all contributions – every single star received will be treasured and appreciated.”
We love how much joy this project brings – both to those who make the items and to those who see them in action on stage.
As always, we’ll be finding good homes for the stars after the curtain falls – donating them to local nurseries, playgroups and charities for decoration, play, and learning.
If you’d like to join in, you can collect a pattern from our Box Office or download it here.
Alternatively, please feel free to make up your own design. All colors and sizes are welcome!
Please send or deliver your stars by Saturday 29 November to:
The Georgian Theatre Royal, Victoria Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4DW
Cinderella runs from Tuesday 2 December 2025 to Saturday 10 January 2026, with over 60 performances of festive fun. Tickets (£18–£26) are available now from the Box Office on 01748 825252 or online at www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk
We can’t wait to see your stars lighting up the Theatre this Christmas!