Alice in Wonderland
Christmas Pantomime 2026
3rd - 6th December
An Nuadha Players are delighted to announce that our Christmas Pantomime for 2026 is Alice in Wonderland; a brand new panto, written by Martin Higgins.
The show will be directed by Caitríona Carr, choreographed by Méadhbh Fitzgibbon Moore, with Marie McAndrew as Musical Director.
Due to the increased amount of interest in our Christmas Pantomime, spaces in Alice in Wonderland, Christmas Pantomime 2026, are limited.
If you are interested in auditioning for a principal role (speaking part), the core dancers, you'd like to join the main chorus, or your child (2nd – 6th class) would like to join the children’s chorus you must complete an Enrolment Form.
Registration will open for a limited time from 24th April to 8th May.
On 24th April, two Enrolment Forms will be added below; one for anyone who is 18 and over and one for under 18s (secondary school).
A parent/guardian is required to complete the form on behalf of young people in secondary school - this is to ensure that all parents/guardians are fully aware of the commitment required.
Please ensure you complete the correct form and only complete one form per person.
Early registration recommended.
Make sure to enter the correct email address and to hit the "Submit" button. A confirmation email will be sent to the email provided – if you don’t receive this email, then your form has not been submitted. Check your junk/spam folder in case the confirmation email goes into that folder.
Please note that only people we receive Enrolment Forms for can be on stage in this year’s Christmas Pantomime.
Enrolment for primary school children (2nd to 6th class) will also take place from 24th April to 8th May. The limited spaces available in the children’s chorus are allocated based on a strict Child Enrolment Policy. The policy can be viewed here. Parents/guardians of children involved in The Sword in the Stone, Christmas Pantomime 2025, and anyone who expressed their interest for their child to be part of this year's panto, will be contacted directly on 24th April by email regarding registration. Please do not fill out either of the above forms for a primary school child . In order to determine if there are any spaces available in the children's chorus for this year's show, we require an Enrolment Form completed for each child interested within the registration period. At this point, we will allocate spaces based on our Child Enrolment Policy criteria.
LAUNCH NIGHT
Join us in Maynooth Community College on Thursday 14th May at 7:30pm as we launch this year’s Christmas Pantomime to ask any questions you have.
As part of our launch night, we will be having a Movement Workshop for everyone who is interested in getting involved in this year's panto (excluding primary school children). Everyone on stage will be moving at some point during the show so this is a great opportunity for our Choreographer to get a feel for the different experience levels within the group. Some principal roles will also require specific movement styles (e.g. the Cheshire Cat’s movement needs to be balletic and fluid) and movement will play a part in the casting of roles. We would strongly encourage everyone who registers to be part of the show to join us on the night – no dance experience required, just come along and have fun!
We also ask that any parents/guardians of primary and secondary school children please attend for the information part of the evening, as it is important that you are fully aware of the commitment required. Primary school children are welcome to come along with their parents/guardians, however are not needed for the Movement Workshop so can leave ahead of this.
AUDITIONS
Our acting and singing auditions for principal roles are on Monday 18th and Thursday 21st May at 7:30pm in Riverstown Hall, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Audition pieces will be provided prior to the auditions to those who have completed an Enrolment Form.
Marie, our Musical Director, will teach a standard audition song. However, if you have a song prepared that you would like to sing, you’re more than welcome to do so – this will be limited to a maximum of 60 seconds/one verse, one chorus. Feel free to play your own backing track or instrument to accompany yourself. If you are using a backing track, please make sure to have it ready to go at the exact point you wish it to start from when it is your turn to audition.
If you would like to do an acting audition and would rather not sing, or vice-versa, that’s no problem.
Auditions for core dancers will take place on Saturday 23rd May from 10am to 12pm in Maynooth Community College.
NOTE: You must be in secondary school or upwards to attend our auditions for principal roles, core dancers, or to be part of the main chorus (this includes students beginning first year in 2026).
Auditions for primary school children will take place on Saturday 23rd May and further information will be communicated by email directly to the parent/guardians of children we receive an Enrolment Form for.
If you or your child are considering auditioning for this year's Christmas Pantomime, please ensure you complete an Enrolment Form by 8th May. More audition information will be sent to those who register.
Rehearsals will be on Mondays (principals), Thursdays (full cast for singing & dancing) and Sundays (full cast), with dance rehearsals for core dancers and rehearsals for primary school children on Saturdays. Please ensure you can commit to the above prior to registering.
Primary school children may be required to attend rehearsals on a Monday at times if they are cast in a principal role. Schedules will be provided, giving as much notice as possible.
Principal, adult chorus, and core dancer rehearsals will begin around the 3rd week of August, with Sunday rehearsals starting mid to end of September. Children’s chorus rehearsals will begin around the last week of September. All details will be sent directly to everyone who completes an Enrolment Form.
If you're interested in auditioning and can't make the above dates, please email us at annuadhaplayers@gmail.com to let us know and ensure you register between 24th April to 8th May.
Keep an eye here on our website, on our social media pages (links below) or sign up to our email and WhatsApp mailing lists for all information.
Map
Launch Night/Movement Workshop/Core Dancers auditions location: Maynooth Community College
Enter through the main doors to the school
Principal auditions location: Riverstown Hall, St Patrick's College, Maynooth
Go through the gates of St Patrick's College and follow the road around to the left
Our Production Team
Martin Higgins
Scriptwriter
Caitríona Carr
Director
Méadhbh Fitzgibbon Moore
Choreographer
Marie McAndrew
Musical Director
Amy Douglas
Producer