Get ready for Pantomime season around Cumbria
Pantomime season is here again, no really, it is. It’s the time of year where the county is awash with pantomimes. No Christmas would be complete without a visit to one so we’ve collated a list of the brightest local pantomimes. So take your pick, remember to act like a child, enjoy adult silliness and laugh out loud at the innuendos and hairy-legged dames.
Egremont:
Snow White and the Eight Dwarfs
As December descends on us for another year, Rosehill Theatre Group will be taking us into the woods with a beautiful princess and not seven, but eight of her little helpers.
As pantomime season returns, The Solway Hall will play host to the energetic Rosehill Theatre Group for yet another fantastic production.
Promising roaring laughter, slapstick humour and a script full of original punch lines, this year’s panto production is an updated version of the classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Adding another dwarf to the mix, the cast are busy perfecting their: ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘oh no he isn’t’ as the ever popular story gets set to be brought to life.
Every year, the group puts on an eclectic performance with this year promising to be nothing less. Last year The Solway Hall welcomed the group who put on a performance of another Disney classic, Aladdin.
Tickets are: £8 – doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Showing Monday December 5 – Thursday December 8. Tickets can be purchased from The Solway Hall at: www.thesolwayhall.com.
Whitehaven:
Cinderella
As the clock strikes midnight, the Whitehaven Theatre Group will transform into the cast of Cinderella as their annual pantomime gets underway.
Brought to life at Egremont Market Hall between December 6 and 11, audiences are promised a fun-filled adaptation of the classic fairytale.
In the wake of her father’s untimely demise, Cinderella is left in the unfortunate care of her cruel stepmother and jealous stepsisters. When Prince Charming holds a ball, the evil step mother does not allow her to go. Cinderella, aided by her kind Fairy Godmother and equipped with a beautiful ball gown and a unique pair of glass slippers, attends, only to have to leave at midnight when the Fairy Godmother’s spell is broken
Performances are nightly at 7pm from Tuesday to Saturday, as well as Matinees at 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. For booking and additional information visit the Whitehaven Theatre Group’s Facebook page.
Tickets are: Opening nights £6, Adult £8, OAP/U 16 £7. Group bookings are also available on the Whitehaven Theatre Group Website: www.whitehaventheatregroup.com or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitehaventheatregroup.
Brampton:
Robinson Crusoe
Brampton Players annual pantomime has been revealed as the swashbuckling, pirate favourite Robinson Crusoe.
This year sees a cast of 20 begin their nautical tale in the local village of Tricklewater, before setting sail on the Dastardly Barnacle plummeting to the bottom of the ocean, before washing up on Skull Island.
Originally written by Nigel Holmes, the show has been completely revamped and given a brand new twist by veteran panto directors Ruth Atkinson and Joanne Bates to suit the local audience.
Packed full of fun and frolics, join us this festive season for a twist on a traditional panto.
Robinson Crusoe is performed at Brampton Community Centre on Tuesday 27th December 7.30pm, Wednesday 28th December 5.30pm, Thursday 29th December 2.30pm & Friday 30th December 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from Brampton Post Office or by calling 07775812145. Adults £7.50, Children £5. Under 3s go free. Visit: www.bramptonplayers.co.uk
Carlisle:
Jack and the Beanstalk
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Jack and the Beanstalk will be loads of fun.
That’s right, join a star-studded cast at the Sands Centre this December to catch their exciting performance of the much loved fairytale.
Join Jack for an amazing adventure this Christmas as he climbs into the magical world of castles and giants in the sky. With a handful of magic beans and the help of the good fairy, Jack will be transported to a magical new kingdom where he will finally be able to help his poor mother, Dame Trott, and win the heart of his beloved Jill.
With a cast featuring several household names including: George Sampson as Jack, Andy Abraham as Fleshcreep, Gabrielle Green as The Good Fairy, Robbie Dee as Dame Trott and Dean Winters as Simple Simon, it’s a show not to be missed.
Jack and the Beanstalk runs from December 12 – 31 with matinee and evening performances. Tickets from £13.50 plus a booking fee are on sale now and already selling fast.
Wigton:
Aladdin
The most mystical pantomime of all time is flying into Wigton on a magic carpet this Christmas.
Join the cast of the John Peel Theatre for a magical evening as they take to the stage to perform the ultimate rags to riches tale, Aladdin.
Meet the hero Aladdin and join him on his journey to win the heart of the beautiful princess, defeating the evil Abanazer along the way.
The spectacular family show will have audiences crying with laughter as the tale of a street urchin and a genie who promises him three wishes is brought to life.
As usual, audiences can expect big laughs, colourful sets, killer vocals and nothing but family fun.
The show will run Monday – Sunday December 5 – 11 at 7:00pm as well as matinees on December 10 and 11 starting at 2pm. Tickets cost £7 and are available to purchase from Christies in Wigton or online at Ticket Source.
Workington:
Sleeping Beauty
This Christmas, the Workington Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society return to the Carnegie Theatre, for another spectacular pantomime performance.
From 26 – 30 December the team behind last year’s Cinderella, take to the stage to bring you Sleeping Beauty.
When a malevolent fairy places a curse on a beautiful princess, putting her to sleep for 100 years, can Prince Charming, with the help of the good fairies, break the spell and rescue her from the tower?
In a musical performance, of a story much-loved by all ages, find amazing special effects, lots of laughs and of course, a few surprises along the way!
leeping Beauty is showing at the following times:
Mon 26 December – 2pm
Tue 27 December – 2pm & 5:30pm
Wed 28 December – 3pm & 7pm
Thu 29 December – 3pm & 7pm
Fri 30 December – 2pm & 5:30pm
Tickets are £12 or £44 for a family ticket and are available at: carnegietheatre.co.uk
Cockermouth:
Jack and the Beanstalk
If you’re in need of a bit of a pick me up after all the festivities are over, Cockermouth has just the thing.
At the end of January, the Kirkgate Centre will play host to the Cockermouth Amateur Dramatic Society for a special performance of the pantomime classic, Jack and the Beanstalk.
The dastardly Harry Coe wants to evict poor Granny Bean from her cottage, meaning that even their beloved cow Daisy would have to be sold. When son Jack meets an old crone on the way to market, things take a turn for the…well, unexpected, to say the least.
What you can expect though, is adventure, excitement, magic and jokes so bad, they’re brilliant, in this all-singing, all-dancing production which promises to be a lot of fun for all the family.
Jack and the Beanstalk is showing on Saturday 28 January and Saturday 4 February at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm. Standard tickets are £8.00 with concessions from £7.50; family tickets are available at £27.00. Tickets can be purchased from: thekirkgate.com/theatre
Maryport:
Bamboozled – Relaxed Performance
A very special production is coming to Maryport this December.
Bamboozled, taking place on Saturday 10 September is an original and interactive children’s pantomime, designed exclusively for families and young adults with additional needs or disabilities. In this unique, relaxed performance, which encourages freedom of expression, the audience are able to move around as they wish and are free to express themselves throughout.
During the performance, the house lights will be up, there will be no use of loud microphones, and music and special FX will be kept to a low noise level. In order to make the experience as comfortable as possible for the audience, there will be more space between rows of seats, with allocated space for wheelchair users and space at the front for people to sit, stand or dance – wherever the mood takes you!
Brought to Maryport by Imagination Parties; Bamboozled is a wonderful opportunity for young people with disabilities and their families to get in the Christmas spirit – oh, yes it is!
Bamboozled is on Saturday 10 December, 10am – 12noon (includes approx 20 min interval) Tickets are £3 or £10 for a family of four and are available from Imagination Parties Ltd only and are on a first come first served basis.
Keswick:
The Emperor and the Nightingale
What better way to get the whole family feeling festive, than a trip to the theatre to see Keswick’s annual Christmas production?
This year, the Theatre by the Lake, presents a joyful adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s, The Emperor and the Nightingale.
Featuring exquisite puppetry from Jimmy Grimes (The Shepherd’s Life, War Horse), this performance will enliven the senses with all the colour, movement and spectacle of Chinese Theatre.
In ancient China, a young emperor is kept prisoner in his palace by his scheming guardian but when he hears a young peasant girl, talk of the most beautiful sound on earth – the song of the nightingale – he cannot resist. The two embark on an epic adventure that will take them to the far reaches of his kingdom, but has the young emperor got an ulterior motive that will threaten the peace of the kingdom?
A fairy tale that will delight the whole family.
Showing at the Theatre by the Lake from 26 November 2016 to 12 January 2017. Tickets from from £10 – £30, to book call 017687 74411 or visit https://www.theatrebythelake.com. £10 – £30, to book call: 01768 774 411 or visit: theatrebythelake.com
Share It:
