Oh NO it isn’t!
We’ve become somewhat of a panto family over the last 5 years. Without realising it we have joined millions of families in this uniquely British tradition of screaming ‘he’s behind you!’ at a large man in a dress on stage.
This year, Daisy is actually taking part in a professional panto herself, so we really are going the whole way with panto fever.
Our favourite theatre to visit is actually in Worthing, half an hour from Brighton. The Pavillion Theatre is really family friendly and has a great cafe bar on site. The building is beautiful and right on The Pier so has fantastic sea views. One of the main draws for us is you can park a stones throw away really easily on street for about £1 an hour and free after 6. You won’t find that in Brighton!
This year the panto was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Chesney Hawkes. Yes! Chesney Hawkes! The kids had no idea who this was and when I realised it was at least 25 years since half of my class had a severe teenage crush on ‘the one and only’ I felt rather old. I felt even older when he actually came on stage all fresh-faced and looking at least 10 years younger than me!
Paul Holman Associates are again collaborating with Worthing Theatres on this year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which featuring a cast of West End, X Factor and TV stars.
Star of the show for me was the rather dashing baddie ‘Orrible Herman’ played by Cbeebies Shwashbuckle’s Richard David-Caine. His comedy is perfect for panto with blue jokes that go way over children’s heads but are told with such hilarious character that even the little ones end up rolling around on their chairs laughing.
Some words from Daisy aged 12
The bakery scene was so funny and my favourite bit of the show. Muddles (Joseph Elliott) and the fat lady (Dame Able Mabel – Simon Howe) were trying to make a cake and didn’t have the ingredients so Herman the Henchman came on in disguise trying to sell them some flour and stuff. He must have had slippery shoes on cos he just kept falling over and ended up covered in cream and flour. They were all laughing so much they couldn’t say their words.
I thought Queen Grizelda (Niki Evans) had a brilliant voice and she sang some songs we all knew. Mum liked it when they sang Dolly Parton and was singing along (which was embarrassing). Herman had the best accent and made us all laugh whenever he came on. (spoiler alert) He ended up marrying the man in a dress!
Seeing all the kids dancing on stage made me really excited for my performance in Pinnochio. We’ve watched shows each Christmas for the last few years and I always think ‘I want to do that’. I am a bit nervous because it might go wrong in front of so many people. I’ve never been on a big stage before and I’m doing circus skills and aerial silks so have been practising like mad. (watch this space!)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opens at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing until Monday 1st January 2018. Tickets are available from the Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206 206 and online at worthingtheatres.co.uk
Daisy is performing in Pinnochio at The Attenborough Theatre, Brighton until 6th January.
a field somewhere 
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