Johnny McKnight celebrates 20 years of panto at Macrobert Arts Centre.

Lisa in the theatre
6 hours ago
2 min read

Macrobert Arts Centre is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Johnny McKnight’s first appearance in the venue’s Christmas pantomime. Since then, Johnny has written every Macrobert pantomime and performed as the Dame every other year. Read more about this panto legend and his legacy at the Stirling panto below.

Johnny McKnight in Weans in the Wood panto at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling. Photo credit: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan — Johnny McKnight in panto at Macrobert Arts Centre. Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Twenty years since Johnny McKnight first appeared in panto at Macrobert Arts Centre

Johnny McKnight is the award-winning writer, director and performer who has gained a devoted following throughout Forth Valley and beyond as the genius behind Macrobert’s popular Christmas panto. And this December, Macrobert Arts Centre is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his first appearance in the venue’s Christmas pantomime.

In recognition of the milestone, Johnny was gifted a lifetime seat dedication in the venue’s Mainhouse.

Johnny first appeared in The Wizard of Oz at Macrobert in 2005 as the Cowardly Lion, then wrote the venue's pantomime for the first time with 2007’s Cinderella. Since then, Johnny has written every Macrobert pantomime and performed as the Dame every other year.

Johnny has won and been nominated for multiple UK Panto Awards and was recently awarded The Scotsman Fringe First Award 2025 and The Besties Skinny Award for the solo show She’s Behind You, a reflection on Johnny’s adventures in panto.

Johnny is currently playing Dame Magic Merlina in this year’s Macrobert pantomime, Weans in the Wood. The story follows Hansel-No-Solo and best pal Gretel, pupils at Merlina’s School for Magical Minors, as they fight the wicked Sheriff of Stirling-Stella-ham and their band of evil minions. Weans in the Wood is an imaginative twist on several beloved fairytale favourites, all coming together in a magical mash-up.

Johnny McKnight commented:

“I can barely believe it’s twenty years since the first time I performed in a Macrobert Christmas show. Back then it was as the Cowardly Lion looking for his courage… after all this time I think it’s safe to say the theatre (and the brilliant audiences) have helped me find my roar. It’s a privilege to get to perform this time of year and give audiences their Christmas night out, but to have been able to do it for two decades is beyond an honour. Here’s to many more…”

Ed Robson, Artistic Director of Macrobert Arts Centre commented:

“Over the past 20 years, Johnny McKnight has played a pivotal role in Macrobert’s success. As a leading light in the art of pantomime Johnny's vision, creativity and dedication has produced so many fantastically memorable Christmas shows for audiences right across the Forth Valley. May his sequin-spangled talents as our panto writer-director-dame continue to inspire everyone here at Macrobert for at least another 20 years!"

Weans in the Wood is currently open at Macrobert and will run until Sat 3 Dec 2026. The show is sponsored locally by Ian Gallacher Jewellers.