Panto season is well under way and theatres are filling as favourite fairytale renditions take to the stage, but audiences for one in particular will be treated to a major twist on the classic format.
This year, the Muslim Panto are back to cook up a storm with their biggest touring production Snow Brown and her Seven Chachay, which takes the traditional Snow White story with a pinch of spice and a modern Muslim family background.
Citizen Khan actor and BBC comedian Abdullah Afzal founded the Muslim Panto in 2023, fusing traditional pantomime with South-Asian culture, Islamic lessons and British banter, all while raising money for charity.
Afzal said: “I love doing this because, first of all, I’m making a big difference, it’s my way of doing my charity. It’s a way that I’m good at.
“It’s a great way of helping those most in need, and then helping people become confident to perform things that they couldn’t do, or they thought they couldn’t do before – and that’s a big part of it as well.”
Following the successes of Cinder’Aliyah and Beauty and the Balaah, Snow Brown and her Seven Chachay has sold over 24,000 tickets across 38 shows in 11 cities around the UK to make it Muslim Panto’s biggest hit to date.
This year’s show was independently funded by Afzal, with a small cast of nine actors including TikTok personality Daud Butt as the evil minion Padh (fart), Lubna Saleh as Snow Brown, Zoe Iqbal as the wicked stepmother, and Abdullah as Chacha Gussa (angry uncle).
Saleh said: “Playing Snow Brown is just so heartwarming because after the shows the little girls come up to you and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I wear a hijab too, you look like me.’
“A lot of parents come to you and say, ‘I’m so glad that we have the representation that we want.’
“So it’s just an inclusive show for everyone, really, but we want to give back to our community.”
Afzal decided to create his own show after starring in The Great Muslim Panto – which supported other charities such as Penny Appeal – and added his own creative insight to the scenes plus a twist of humour to the script.
He said: “I went ahead and I did my version, and it was just surreal, because so many people came out and it was just amazing, and we’ve not stopped since then.
“It’s gotten bigger and bigger, and now I’m independent which is amazing.”
Charity organisations including Donate Directly, Forgotten Women, and Islamic Relief have sponsored and helped this year’s pantomime raise money for Gaza to provide essential aid, shelter, and even rebuild what was destroyed.
Donate Directly founder Iqrar Ul Hassan said: “Funds raised through the Muslim Panto go directly to families in Gaza facing unimaginable hardship.
“At each show, we share real feedback from the ground – food packs, water tanks, women’s dignity kits and baby milk delivered often just a day before the performance.”
Muslim Panto is already selling tickets for next year’s show, The Lion Sheikh, which will be showing from 30 October 2026-27 January 2027.
Afzal added: “It’s for everyone. It’s not just for the Muslim community, but it is a safe space for Muslim families.”
Visit the Muslim Panto website for tickets.
Feature image: Muslim Panto
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