Families enjoy panto fun at the Grove Theatre ahead of Christmas
Tuesday, 6 January 2026
Over 400 children got a Christmas treat at the end of December when they went to see Peter Pan at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable, starring Rita Simons (EastEnders) Rhys Stephenson (CBeebies).
The children – from reception to year 11 – and their families attended this year’s pantomime for free, thanks to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which is funded by the Department for Education. Families were able to choose to attend one of three showings.
The HAF programme is designed for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals. All children who attend face-to-face activities as part of the programme are provided with a healthy hot meal, so ahead of the panto the children tucked into a buffet at the theatre.
Staff from our children’s centres, youth support service and the early years childcare and early years SEND teams also attended and were on hand to offer advice and support to families on a range of topics.
We funded activities for children throughout the Christmas holidays, including arts, crafts and creative activities, multi-activity clubs, outdoor and sports focussed sessions and youth and holiday clubs.
One mum from Shefford, who attended with her 11-year-old-son, said:
It’s the first panto we’ve been to, but my son has been to one of the other activities over the summer. He’s quite anxious but when I picked him up, he was really excited to tell me what he’d been doing that day. I think the HAF programme is great for giving children opportunities they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.
Michelle from Houghton Regis, who attended with her 3 sons, said:
We’re a low budget family and this gives the children the opportunity to experience something we wouldn’t be able to offer them normally. We’ve taken part in the holiday club before, and my boys get the chance to meet other children they don't go to school with so it’s been great for them to make new friends.
Amira, who is 7, said:
We come every year, and I’m looking forward to it. Whenever I come to the show it’s really funny; the pantomime dame came out with a big tutu and a cake last time. The food is also lovely.
Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s Services:
We’re thrilled to be able to give local families the chance to enjoy festive events like the pantomime. It’s so important that every child can experience the joy of Christmas, make new friends, and create happy memories, without families having to worry about the cost.
We also run HAF activities during the Easter and summer holidays. Read more about the HAF programme.