The Christmas season is a time to cherish old things. Longtime relationships, roasting chestnuts over the fire – who does that anymore? – and here in the Bay, a merry-old theater style called pantomime or just “panto” for short.
Stretching back at least to 18th-century England, panto is live theater that parodies the tropes of theater in a humorous, often musical way. For several years now, San Francisco has held its own panto productions during the holidays, performed in a former U.S. Army movie house that’s now the charming Presidio Theatre in the city’s vast, northern green space.
To wrap up 2025, the theatre is staging “Peter Pan” with – as always – the directive that the audience get into the shows as much as possible, whether that means booing the villains or singing along to the songs. “The adventure begins in San Francisco before soaring away to the magical world of Neverland, featuring familiar characters such as Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys,” write the producers. “Panto in the Presidio fans will recognize favorites including Pecker the singing rooster and the wonderfully wacky Dame who narrates the action.”
Aside from all that fun, be sure to brush up on your catching skills, because there’s free candy that the performers hurl out to the audience.
Details: Shows and previews run on select days through Dec. 28 (opening night Dec. 6) at 99 Moraga Ave., San Francisco; tickets are $17–$66 and available at presidiotheatre.org