It’s nearly December, and that means just one thing in the world of theatre – Panto! Every year, the Everyman puts on its own pantomime, and every year, it’s incredibly popular with family audiences in Gloucestershire. This year, the pantomime is Dick Whittington and his Cat, and, as ever, features Tweedy the Clown, who will be making audiences laugh with his crazy antics, and gasp with his daring stunts. This year, the panto also features a new dame – Mark Roper, after the retirement of William Elliot, who has played the role of the dame over the last few years.

This week, we’ve been getting involved with the panto, going out with Everyman practitioners Caro Day and Maureen Bennett to help run workshops for groups of children who are going to see the panto in the next few weeks. During the workshops, the children find out a little about the story and characters, and learn the song they will be invited to sing along with during the show. The children then get a chance to dress up and act out the story of Dick Whittington, ensuring that they know exactly what to expect when they go along to the theatre to watch the full show.

The panto opened on Friday afternoon, and Stagedoor students spent the morning packing the bags which will be given to the lucky children who get to go up on stage during the show – we know by now that theatre isn’t all glitz and glamour, and it’s great to be able to involved with the real work of the Everyman. The gang were then rewarded on Friday afternoon by watching the opening performance of the show, which will now run until Sunday 7th January.

Next week, there will be more panto workshops to help out with, as well as a performance at the Everyman Theatre Association Christmas Dinner.  It’s fair to say that by the time December actually starts, we will be well and truly feeling the Christmas spirit!