For generations of families across Drogheda, pantomime has been a constant. Long before modern theatres and digital ticketing, local audiences packed cinemas, parish halls and hotel ballrooms to support productions created by their own community.
Founded in 1951, the Society marks its 75th anniversary in 2026, celebrating decades of performances, volunteers and local talent who have helped sustain one of Drogheda’s longest running cultural traditions.
Changing Venues, Same Commitment
The archive images trace the Society’s journey through many homes. Early productions were staged in cinemas and temporary venues, followed by years in the Parochial Centre. Newspaper coverage from the mid 2000s documents the impact of its demolition and the challenge faced by local groups who were forced to relocate.
Despite these changes, productions continued. Shows moved to alternative venues, including hotels and theatres, ensuring that pantomime remained part of the town’s annual calendar.
The clippings show that while locations changed, the standard of performance and audience support did not.
A Record of Local Cultural Life
Taken together, these images form a record of local cultural history. They capture changing styles, venues and generations, while showing the consistency of community involvement that has sustained the Society since 1951.
Seventy five years on, the Drogheda Pantomime Society remains a fixture of the town’s cultural life, with its next chapter ready to take to the stage in 2026.
To mark its 75th anniversary, the Society will present “Beauty and the Beast” at the Barbican Centre.
The production will run over two weekends, 23 to 25 January and 30 January to 1 February 2026, continuing a tradition that has spanned three quarters of a century.
You can book your tickets online now: https://www.gr8events.ie/sales/show_perfs.php?eid=2317
