Thanks to the generosity of Fairfield Halls’ 2024 pantogoers, up to 150 schoolchildren from Croydon will be eligible to enjoy funded tickets to see performances of the venue’s 2025/26 festive production - Beauty and the Beast. The Fairfield Halls team collected more than £3,000 in audience donations during last year’s run of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise that operates the venue in partnership with Croydon Council, will pay for up to five pupil premium tickets within each school booking, a contribution worth up to £100*.

Beauty and the Beast will take centre stage at the venue from December 2025 – 4 January 2026. Promising a spectacular show packed with great talent and incredible production, tickets are already on sale online with casting to be announced soon.

Sean Coogan, General Manager, Fairfield Halls said; “The primary objective of raising these funds is to make the theatre accessible to children from low-income backgrounds. For many young people, pantomime is their first introduction to theatre. We’re incredibly pleased to be able to offer this initiative to local schools to help more schoolchildren access pantomime.”

Schools that have already booked for this year’s panto performances have received confirmation of their pupil premium support. All schools that make future bookings to attend Fairfield Halls’ pantomime performances will also be entitled to receive this generous contribution. School performances for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ run over two days in December with shows Tuesday 16 December (10am and 1.30pm) and Wednesday 17 December (10am and 1.30pm) – there is currently limited availability for both morning performances. Schools are encouraged to contact schools@bhlive.org.uk for more information on tickets, group bookings, and pupil premium funding.

*If 30 or more tickets are booked in a single transaction it is a £92.50 contribution, or if 10 or more tickets are booked in a single transaction it is a contribution of £87.50.