It’s panto time again … oh yes it is! A host of festive entertainment is promised at theatres in Reading and the surrounding area, including The Hexagon as pantomimes are performed everywhere.
Here is a round-up of what you can look forward to this Christmas.
Cinderella
The Hexagon, Reading
Saturday, December 7-Sunday, January 5
CBeebies megastar Justin Fletcher once again teams up with comic partner Paul Morse for a family-friendly pantomime.
New this year is a digital set, which brings the art of pantomime firmly into the 21st century. It offers a range of possibilities including some quick changes with the backgrounds as well as the cast.
Also returning are panto favourites Carl Tracey, Rachel Delooze and Bex Allingham, while newcomers Cassandra Lee and Adam Pettigrew complete the main cast.
Imagine Theatre, who stage the show for The Hexagon, held auditions for the show’s junior ensemble, which means Reading-based youngsters will have their turn on stage.
There will be special performances across the run: relaxed where the lights are up and the bangs are less pronounced, and signed for the hard of hearing.
Tickets cost from £13 for school groups. Regular tickets are from £20 to £39, and there are group rates available.
Full details are available on the WhatsonReading.com website, or by calling the box office on 0118 960 6060.
The Snow Queen
Friday, November 29-New Year’s Eve
Reading Rep Theatre
The Kings Road-based arts space is bringing a new version of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale to life this Christmas.
It is set in the midwinter of Denmark.
The frosty air nips at noses, while houses huddle together to stay warm.
And a rose garden blooms thanks to tales spun by a grandma.
But in the snowy wastelands, miles away from the village of Odense, The Snow Queen reigns.
When Kai suddenly and mysteriously disappears, Gerda must brave icy landscapes to find her best friend. Join her in this exhilarating adventure as she wrestles with bandits, befriends reindeers and comes face to face with her greatest fears.
The show is suitable for ages eight upwards, and across the run there will be signed and relaxed performances.
Tickets cost from £5 to £26, with various promotions running across the festive season.
For more details, log on to: https://www.readingrep.com/the-snow-queen/
Screwed: A Midlife Christmas Crisis!
Progress Theatre, Reading
Wednesday, December 18-Saturday, December 21
Not a pantomime, but definitely a Christmas play.
Members of Progress Theatre’s youth group are performing a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
The Saturday matinee will be a relaxed performance.
Tickets cost £15.52 including booking fees, or £13.42 for concessions.
Full details are available on the group’s website, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/progresstheatre/screwed-a-midlife-christmas-crisis/e-dememg or by calling the box office on: 0333 666 3366.
Robin Hood and the Magic Arrow
South Hill Park, Bracknell
Friday, November 29-Sunday, January 5
A very different show from South Hill Park this year, taking the legend of the man who steals from the rich to give to the poor, and giving it a comic spin.
The show’s description is thus: When King Richard disappears, Robin Hood has his land taken away from him by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
Will Robin be able to get his home back?
Can he protect Maid Marian from the Sheriff?
Will our heroes ever be able to save the King?
The production is being created in-house by South Hill Park’s creative teams, and includes the usual ingredients of songs, slapstick comedy, crazy characters and colourful costumes and sets.
There are some special performances across the run includes an adults-only night, which is for ages 18 or over.
There will also be shows specially for schools, a sign language performance, and a show that is relaxed for those with additional needs.
Programmes can be ordered in advance, saving 50p on the on the night price, and the same option is available for booster seats.
Special rates are available for bookings of more than 20 people.
Tickets cost from £22.50, and can be ordered by logging on to South Hill Park’s website, or calling the box office on 01344 484123.
Robin Hood
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Saturday, November 30-Sunday, January 5
Also performing Robin Hood is the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, a short drive away from Reading and there is ample parking close by.
The theatre has its own traditions, which means local personality Peter Gordon has a starring role. Back for his 19th year, he will star as Nanny Fanny Annie, and will be joined by Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Matt Pinches.
Also returning is Lucy Benjamin, famous for her roles in EastEnders and Dectectorists. Last year she was the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella, this time she is the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin Hood tells the story of how the citizens of Sherwood Forest get their own back.
The Sheriff is raising taxes and making their lives ever harder.
Robin, Marion and their gallant gang are there to fight back and stand up for the locals.
Tickets cost from £18, or £14 for children, with concessions available for groups and schools.
For more details, log on to: https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/robin-hood or call: 01483 440000.
Snow White
Camberley Theatre
Saturday, December 7-New Year’s Eve
A new version of the age-old tale is coming to Camberley this Christmas.
Organisers are promising a show full of laughter, magic and unexpected surprises. There will also be some twists to the timeless story, ensuring it is Snow White as audiences have never seen it before.
Tickets cost £28, under 16s pay £26, and a family of four pay £100. The theatre operates a PantoPay scheme giving people paying more than £60 on tickets the opportunity to pay back over three months.
A relaxed performance will take place at 2pm on Sunday, December 15, a sign language performance will be Sunday, December 22, at the same time. There will be a subtitled version of the show on Friday, December 27, from 1pm.
These will be the first shows at the theatre since it was closed for works to remove RAAC concrete from the building.
For more details, log on to: www.camberleytheatre.co.uk/events/snow-white or call the box office on 01276 707600.
Dick Whittington
Theatre Royal Windsor
Friday, November 22-Sunday, January 12
Basil Brush heads up the cast for the Theatre Royal Windsor’s festive show.
Dick Whittington tells the story a man and his cat who head to Ye Olde London Town to find fame and fortune … are the streets paved with gold? Is there a rat among the foxes?
Children’s favourite Basil is a regular at Windsor, as is the dame, Steven Blakeley (who also writes the script), and comedian Kevin Cruise.
Joining them this year will be comedian Hillary O’Neill, who is playing Fairy Bowbells.
Also in the cast are Mia Welsh and Alice Fitzwarren, Mikko Juan as Dick, and Rina Punwani and Tallulah the cat.
Tickets cost from £18.50, with special deals for families of three or four people.
Some performances have already sold out, and there is a relaxed performance on Tuesday, November 26 at 1.30pm.
For more details, log on to: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/dick-whittington-24/ or call the box office on: 01753 853888.
Snow White
The Kenton Theatre, Henley
Saturday, December 14-Monday, December 30
Immersion Theatre return to The Kenton to present their new festive show.
They promise dazzling costumes, spectacular dance routines, a hilarious script and bags of audience interaction … plus a water gun or two.
The two-hour show has a more limited run that other theatres, as their are other festive performances coming to the stage, including A Christmas Carol.
Tickets cost £28.50 for adults, £26.50 for concessions, £22.50 for under 16s and there is a £2 discount per ticket for families of two adults and two children.
There is a relaxed performance on Tuesday, December 17, designed for those who want a more peaceful performance.
For more details, or to book, log on to thekenton.org.uk, or call the box office on 01491 525050.
Pinocchio
Norden Farm
Tuesday, November 26-Saturday, December 28
Norden Farm in Maidenhead, just off the A4, always provides something a little different for its festive show and this year is no different as it presents a new retelling of Pinocchio, the little puppet that is brought to life by some magic.
Three very funny men seek refuge in a grand but abandoned old house – one of them is Pinocchio and it turns out he’s had quite a life.
All the elements are contained within: his woodcarver father, a lie detector of a nose, and the dream of becoming a real boy.
The story is told with puppetry, music, and laughs.
There are relaxed performances on Saturday, November 30, and Friday, December 27, plus a signed performance on Saturday, December 21.
The show is suitable for very young children, and has a running time of an hour.
Tickets cost £16, or £14 for under 16s, while a family and friends ticket offers four seats for £56.
For more details, call the box office on: 01628 788997 or log on to Norden Farm’s website https://norden.farm/events/pinocchio-77
Pinocchio
The Watermill, Newbury
Friday, November 15 to Sunday, January 5
Another theatre performing the tale of a wooden boy who wants to have a life is coming to Berkshire this Christmas.
The Watermill in Newbury is following its recent hugely popular adaptation of The Lord of The Rings with its take on Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio.
Adapted by Simon Reader, it features music and lyrics by Chris Larner.
Lovingly carved in Geppetto’s workshop, Pinocchio’s parents dream of a bright future for their wooden son. Pinocchio, however, dreams of adventure and sets off on a path of fun and freedom ready to discover the world.
Along the way, Pinocchio is confronted with big decisions and a menagerie of colourful characters, leading to calamitous consequences as he starts a fire, turns into a donkey, and even ends up inside a whale.
Tickets cost from £15, and the show is suitable for ages four upwards.
A meal and drink package is available on select performances as an add-on, at the special price of £10, or £5 for a child.
For more details, or tickets, call the box office on: 01635 46044, or log on to: https://www.watermill.org.uk/pinocchio
Dick Whittington
The Corn Exchange, Newbury
Friday, November 29, through to Sunday, January 5.
Dick is heading to London from Newburyshire, joined by his furry friend. They are on a quest to find fame and fortune … are the streets really paved with gold?
Can Dick conquer the evil King Rat? And will he save the city of London?
All these questions will be answered in the family-friendly show.
The Corn Exchange is welcoming back Plested Brown and Wilsher as producers of the show, which will include toe-tapping tunes, magic, sparkle and plenty of laughs.
The show runs from Friday, November 29, through to Sunday, January 5.
Tickets cost from £23.25 to £31.75, with concessions and super-saver deals.
There will also be a special adults-only performance during the run.
For more details, or to book a ticket, log on to: https://cornexchangenew.com/events/dick-whittington-2 or call the box office on: 01635 522733, between 10am and 4pm Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Sleeping Beauty
The Anvil, Basingstoke
Thursday, December 12-Sunday, January 5
An all-star cast headed up by Tyger Drew-Honey from Outnumbered, and CBeebies’ Joanna Adeyinka-Burford lead this performance of Sleeping Beauty.
Also appearing is Chris Pizzey, who starred in The Basil Brush Show as Mr Stephen, Elly Jay, Jenny O’Leary, and Nic Gibney.
The show needs little introduction: A beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse on the eve of her 18th birthday party and can only be awoken by true love’s kiss. Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the curse? Will she find her true love and live happily ever after?
Tickets cost £28.50, £33.50 or £34.50 including a £4 booking fee. There is a £3 discount for those in education, plus special prices for groups of 10 upwards, plus youth groups including Brownies and Cub troops.
Family tickets are also available.
For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01256 844244 or log on to: https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/events/sleeping-beauty
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