St Columb’s Hall to host Giant Christmas Pantomime as Grove Theatre celebrates 45 years

Derry’s Grove Theatre Group is delighted to announce that its beloved family pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, will take to the stage at the iconic St Columb’s Hall this December.

The production forms part of a year-long celebration marking 45 years of the Grove Theatre’s contribution to the arts in the Northwest.

The Grove Theatre Group has long been recognised as a launchpad for some of the city’s best-known performers, including Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Bronagh Gallagher, and Damian McGinty.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s pantomime, McGinty said: “I’m really happy to be here to celebrate the work of the Grove Theatre. I was lucky enough to benefit from the hard work the Grove put in at a grassroots level, making sure young people get the chance to shine on stage and feel comfortable performing.

“It’s really important that we continue to support this work and iconic venues like St Columb’s Hall. I hope everyone comes along to this year’s panto, which is a brilliant family day out — these are the memories kids will have for the rest of their lives.”

St Columb’s Hall, built in 1886, has been a cornerstone of cultural life in the city for over 135 years. Often described as “the People’s Hall”, it is currently undergoing a major transformation aimed at restoring it to full-time creative use.

The Grove Theatre Group’s history is closely entwined with the hall. Beginning in the early 1980s with performances in the Little Theatre within St Columb’s Hall, the group quickly grew, going on to stage pantomimes, musicals, and plays on some of the Northwest’s most prominent stages.

The annual panto has been a staple since the group’s inception, with only one missed year — 2020 — due to the pandemic. Recent homes for the panto have included the Waterside Theatre, the Rialto, the Playhouse, St Mary’s Hall in Creggan, and, memorably, the main stage of St Columb’s Hall in the early to mid-2000s.

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In recent years, the Grove has enjoyed success with major musical productions including Hairspray, Grease, High School Musical, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story and this year’s spectacular Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The group meets weekly to develop skills in acting, singing, and dancing. With more than 200 members aged 11 to 18+, the Grove continues to nurture emerging talent and provide opportunities to build confidence and experience through regular productions and drama activities across the city.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Friday 12 December to Sunday 21 December 2025. Public matinees take place on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 at 2.30pm, with additional matinees on Saturday 20 December at 1.30pm and 5.30pm. School and group morning performances will be held on Friday, December 12, Wednesday, December, 17 and Thursday, December 18 at 10am.

Tickets are available at www.saintcolumbshall.com/whats-on or telephone 0333 666 3366 or by emailing thegrovetheatregroup@gmail.com.