IF you thought that panto season was behind us, then let us be the first to say…‘Oh no it isn’t!’
The Shinfield Players, who perform at the Shinfield Players Theatre in Whitley Wood Lane, are staging their traditional panto (with a few twists) Mother Goose from next Friday.
Starring a cast of 20, which includes some members of the theatre’s youth ensemble, Mother Goose tells the story of the mythical goose that lays the golden egg, or rather produces them from thin air in the show’s case.
Running for just over a week, the show is a family-friendly performance, full of traditional slapstick comedy which will appeal to all ages.
Director Derek Lockwood, who is taking the helm for the seventh time at Shinfield Players, said he is really looking forward to seeing the audience’s reactions.
He said: “It’s a traditional panto, I chose Mother Goose because I liked the fact that it isn’t one of the more well-known pantos, but it has some very traditional sketches and classic comedy.
“There is a wallpaper sketch which I think a lot of famous comedians have performed during their careers which I hope the older viewers will appreciate, but also the younger ones will find funny too. I like that we are able to share these traditional sketches with a new, younger audience.”
The theatre tends to alternate its performances with a play, followed by a musical, with a pantomime every year.
Publicity officer Martin Butler said: “I’m not sure why we decided to put on a pantomime in January, but it seems to work well, it is almost like we are extending the festive season by a few weeks.”
The cast and crew have been working hard rehearsing and putting costumes together to dress the flock of geese, trolls, snowmen and fairies that feature in the show, something that Derek says amazes him every year.
He said: “The quality of the production of these shows is just incredible, we all have full-time jobs but there is something going on here pretty much every day of the week. Everyone, both on-stage and behind the scenes, has worked incredibly hard, and I’m always amazed by the standard of it all, especially the costumes.
“We have been working on the show since October, it usually takes us around three months to put it together. We like to transform the theatre from play to play so the audience is getting a completely new experience every time, but it does take a lot of work.
“There are eight performances in all, one has already sold out which is brilliant. The cubs and brownie groups who come to see it always have a great time, and we love performing to them.
“This is the first performance of what will be a very busy 2016 for Shinfield Theatre so we really hope as many people come down as they can to see what we are all about.”
Mother Goose opens on Friday, January 15 and runs until Sunday, January 24. Performances on Fridays are at 7.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 6pm. For tickets call the Box Office on 0118 975 8880 or visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/shinfieldplayerstheatre.
