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Many people in Richmond and beyond enjoyed watching Treasure Island at The Georgian Theatre Royal over the festive period, and they will be pleased to know that the production has been nominated for Best Script in the UK Pantomime Association’s Pantomime Awards 2025.

Often described as the ‘pantomime Oscars,’ these prestigious awards celebrate excellence in the genre, with winners set to be announced at a glittering ceremony on Sunday, 13 April at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking.

The Theatre’s CEO, Jo Mawhinney, wrote and directed Treasure Island, a production that broke box office records and was praised by both audiences and critics.

“It’s an absolute honour to be nominated,” Jo said. “The Theatre is incredibly proud of its pantomime, and this cherished tradition brings so much joy to audiences of all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Treasure Island—it’s a story packed with fun, action, and adventure, which made it a dream to bring to the stage.

“I am hugely grateful to the fantastic production team, front of house staff, volunteers, and cast for bringing the script to life in such a magical way. I’d also like to give special thanks to Jake Mawhinney, whose fresh ideas and thoughtful insights played a key role in shaping the final script. His support—and endless supply of humour—was truly invaluable.”

This is not the first time the Theatre has been recognised at the Pantomime Awards. In 2022, it was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Newcomer for Marcus Jones’ role as George Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Last year, Marcus received another nomination for Best Secondary Lead for his portrayal of Jimmy Prince Charming in Rapunzel.

The Georgian Theatre Royal has been producing its own pantomimes since 2010, building a reputation both regionally and nationally for top-quality festive shows. In 2018, Sleeping Beauty was named one of The Observer’s top festive productions, while in 2015, The Telegraph crowned the Theatre the No.1 place to see a pantomime in the UK. Most recently, Treasure Island was featured on BBC’s The One Show for its much-loved community knitting project.

Looking ahead, the Theatre is already preparing for its next pantomime—Cinderella! Tickets are now on sale for this magical production, which runs from 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. Book online at www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01748 825252.