Christmas in Belfast doesn’t officially begin until May McFettridge steps onto the Grand Opera House stage — and this year’s Pinocchio proves exactly why. Now in her unbelievable 35th panto, May has lost none of the spark, sass or sheer madness that has become a festive ritual for many families across Northern Ireland.
From the moment the lights go up, the audience is thrown straight into the trademark GOH chaos: cheeky jabs at the front row, lightning-fast one-liners, and the kind of banter you pretend you didn’t see coming… even though you absolutely did. And you’ll still be crying laughing.
⭐ A Cast Belfast Knows and Loves
The GOH team have once again brought back their familiar dream line-up — and honestly, why change perfection?
- Adam C Booth is pure mischief as Pinocchio, bouncing around the stage like someone plugged him directly into a generator.
- Paddy Jenkins, celebrating two decades in the panto, shines as Jiminy Cricket — glittering green and full of charm.
- Jolene O’Hara sinks her teeth into the villain Stromboli with delicious glee, while her sister Philippa O’Hara and Maeve Byrne team up as a pair of wonderfully wicked animal sidekicks.
- And of course, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli floats in with fairy sparkle, every entrance announced by a mini firework show.
It’s a company that feels like Belfast theatre royalty — and the audience treats them as such.
⭐ The Show: Big, Loud, Silly, Sparkly… and Completely Irresistible
Everything about this panto screams “go big or go home.”
Expect:
✨ Eye-popping costumes
✨ Fire bursts, glitter bombs and enough pyros to make Snow Patrol jealous
✨ Pinocchio literally flying over the audience
✨ A nose extension that should probably come with a warning
✨ A surprise cameo you’ll be talking about on the way home
✨ And yes… far more fart jokes than you’d ever think possible
This isn’t a panto pretending to be refined. It’s a panto proudly leaning into the mayhem — and kids absolutely lose their minds with joy.
⭐ A Soundtrack That Blasts Through the Walls
The live band brings serious volume and even more serious fun. Pop hits, Belfast twists, and a standout second-act number with vocals powerful enough to lift the roof. The O’Hara sisters are phenomenal — their harmonies alone could sell tickets.
⭐ Perfect For Kids… But Adults Will Have an Even Better Time
There’s no denying it — this is full-tilt children’s panto: silly jokes, messy chaos, huge reactions. But it’s the adults who end up laughing the loudest. You simply cannot sit quietly at the GOH panto. You’re part of the madness:
👏 Boo the villain
🎶 Sing the songs
😂 Laugh at the daftness
📣 And just embrace the craic
For two hours, you genuinely feel eight years old again — and that’s the real magic of it.
⭐ The Heart of the Panto: May, Always May
As the final bows roll out, it’s May who stands there soaking in the applause, as if recharging before the next show. She is the tradition, the star, the anchor. Belfast doesn’t need a UK celeb to headline the panto — it already has one of the best in the business.
⭐ VERDICT: A proper Belfast Christmas cracker
Pinocchio at the Grand Opera House is loud, silly, sparkly and exactly what a brilliant panto should be.
A guaranteed night of festive feel-good fun for kids, grandparents, and absolutely everyone in between.
🎄 5 stars from Love Belfast – The Christmas season officially starts here.
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
