Bedford Panto 2026: Jack and the Beanstalk, 21 Shows

Bedford’s pantomime this Christmas is Jack and the Beanstalk, at Bedford Corn Exchange on St Paul’s Square, running Saturday 19 December to Thursday 31 December 2026. Unlike most of the town’s festive events, this one is fully confirmed and already on sale, with all 21 performances listed and priced.

It is produced by RARE Pantomimes, who the venue describes as returning “for another GIANT panto”. The Corn Exchange is council-run: the box office email is cornexchange@bedford.gov.uk and the number is 01234 718044.

Every performance

All 21 shows, exactly as the venue lists them.

Two things worth spotting. There is nothing on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and the run picks up again on Sunday 27 December. And 31 December has a matinee only, at 1pm, so the last chance to see it is early on New Year’s Eve.

Prices, including the bits added at the checkout

The Corn Exchange quotes prices with the booking fee already inside them, then adds a separate transaction fee on top. Both numbers matter.

Then add the transaction fee. It is £3.85 online, or £2.55 for bookings over £8 made in person or by phone. It is charged per booking, not per ticket, so a family of four pays it once. VAT is included in every price.

A family of four therefore comes to £81.48 online, or £80.18 if you book over the phone on 01234 718044.

The relaxed performance

Monday 28 December, 1pm to 3pm is the relaxed performance. The venue describes it as having the general volume turned down and the house lights at half, with a pre-show introduction by the cast.

That is one relaxed show out of 21, and it is a matinee in the second week, so it is worth booking early if you need it. There is no audio-described or BSL-interpreted performance listed.

Booking terms that catch people out

• Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase, except if the show is cancelled. The venue will accept tickets for resale, but its own unsold seats take priority, and there is a £1 charge if yours sell.
• Reservations hold for 7 days, and no unpaid reservation is accepted in the four days before a performance.
• Latecomers may not be let in until a suitable break in the performance.

Where it is, and getting there

The Main Auditorium at Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL, with tiered and stalls seating. It is in the middle of the town centre, a few minutes’ walk from Harpur Square and the bus station.

For matinees, note that most council car parks in the town centre charge during the day, and the two hours free on a Saturday still requires you to take a pay and display ticket. A 1pm show plus the interval will run past that. Our Bedford parking guide sets out the tariff and closing time for each one, including which car parks charge on a Sunday, which matters for the 20 and 27 December shows.

Roadworks in the town centre over the Christmas period show on our Bedford roadworks and travel page.

The rest of the town’s Christmas

The pantomime traditionally gets a preview slot on the stage at the free Christmas lights switch-on in Harpur Square, and in past years the switch-on has carried a short-lived discount code for panto tickets. The 2026 switch-on date has not been published yet, and we are tracking it on our Bedford Christmas lights switch-on page.

More things to do across the borough are on our things to do in Bedford page.

Checked on 4 September 2026 against Bedford Corn Exchange’s own event listing and terms and conditions. Prices and dates are as published by the venue on that date.