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Original poster

What age did your DC not want to go to panto?

48 replies

parentsonthenet · 22/11/2021 09:57

Do you still go to panto?

How old were your children if they stopped wanting to go?

Mine seem reluctant at 10/11 but I feel like if we go they will enjoy it, even if they think they won't. Can anyone relate?

It's just a lot of money to waste if they don't enjoy it, so would appreciate any insight from others?

OP posts:
delilahbucket · 22/11/2021 22:02

DS13 really looking forward to going this year. He was gutted we couldn't go last year. It does our Christmas Eve, nice meal out, panto, home for hot choc in our PJ's.

XiCi · 22/11/2021 22:29

Dd is 11 and I think this would probably be the year that she'd not be too fussed on going. We've booked to see Six instead this year

Scarby9 · 22/11/2021 22:36

I never liked panto.
When I was about 9 or 10, my parents finally believed me and I didn't have to go anymore.
However, I know families with grown up children that have never missed a year.
So it depends.

Scbchl · 22/11/2021 22:38

My eldest who is just about to turn 17 still enjoys it. The writer for our local theatre puts in loads of double entendres for the adults which are pretty good.

kikipie · 22/11/2021 23:12

I always hated panto as a child, but with a younger sibling who had a Christmas birthday we went for years 🙄

PhoboPhobia · 22/11/2021 23:17

Mine are 24 and 17 and went every year with my Mum pre pandemic. At some point it switched from being about them and became about them doing it because they knew how much it meant to her.

They don't want to go now the cycle has been covid broken!

CakesOfVersailles · 22/11/2021 23:21

I think it also depends on the quality of the panto - our local one was very good for years and all ages enjoyed it (including pre-teens/early teens). They closed down and after a couple of years a new company started up that was more polarising.

StampOnTheGround · 22/11/2021 23:24

I'm 28 and messaged my mum the other day asking if we can book tickets 😂 DH said he couldn't think of anything worse (but did enjoy them when he was a child)

Exhausteddog · 22/11/2021 23:26

I love a panto!Blush
I haven't booked one this year but DD (15) asked if she was too old to go to kne now (she sounded disappointed!)

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 22/11/2021 23:27

Just booked tickets to go with my 20 and 23 year old Grin

ExcessiveIyDisorganised · 22/11/2021 23:32

One of mine went once aged about 6 and has refused to ever go again (now 17). My other still likes it age 15. We go to other things, Christmas concerts, musicals, Christmas lights at eg RHS gardens.

Rachellow · 23/11/2021 22:07

We’re going to an adult pantomime this year which should be fun! “DC” 17,24,26

didireallysaythat · 23/11/2021 22:21

DS1 - 6
DS2 - has never been as he didn't want to.

Neither liked going to see Santa either. All kids are different!

RoseMartha · 23/11/2021 22:37

I have only taken the kids once they were 10 and 11. They were not really fussed about tbh. So didnt bother again.

As a child my mother used to take myself and my sister every year until I was about 13/14.

1stTimeMama · 24/11/2021 00:55

I took my daughter when she was 6/7ish. It was the one and only time, we both hated it, and I've not taken any of my other children since.

SimpsonsXmasBoogie · 24/11/2021 07:07

I think it might be a lot to do with personal tastes, as well as age.

I have never liked panto, even when I was very young. I have friends who have been every year and always enjoyed it, at every age.

LooksBetterWithAFaceMask · 24/11/2021 07:41

We still go with my parents every year dc are 18,15 and 11 and still look forward to it and enjoy it. I love going to the panto we always go between Christmas and new year.

reluctantbrit · 24/11/2021 08:38

End of primary. We never went as a family as DH and I hate them but she went with the school each year. We have a local amateur group doing a great one (well, as we hear) and we offered to pay for DD and a friend but she declined.

We go for ice skating with dinner now and also go for a carol concert (alternating it between classical ones and pop/modern).

Ragwort · 24/11/2021 08:51

Surely it's down to personal taste, I can think of nothing worse than going to a Pantomime, my DH loves them ... he was so excited to take our DS when he was 4 but DS hated it and they had to leave early. DS is like me and never wanted to go to another (he's 20 now!) . Poor DH still hints every year that he wants to go to the Panto ... I just wish he would go on his own !

notacooldad · 24/11/2021 08:53

I never took my kids. They always went with Cubs. Once they left Cubs and went to scouts they were not bothered about going.

Snozzlemaid · 24/11/2021 18:20

Ds (now 24) stopped when he was about 12/13.
Dd is 20 and still loves to go.

ancientgran · 24/11/2021 18:22

@HomeSliceKnowsBest

DD7 has always detested them as they are 'super cringe' (thank God!).
Clever girl you've got there. I think I've have voted not to go from birth if I'd known about them but yes by 7 I couldn't understand why we had to get dragged to them.
BeaLola · 24/11/2021 18:34

Varies according to panto - luckily we love the company that do ours as the Dame is really good - DS13 still enjoys it but I think its because he enjoys the ritual of where we go & the standard cast who are excellent - even DH loves this one and he normally hates panto/theatre

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