• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, May 30, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

    Annual photography exhibition starts today

    Mike's company, Kill A Watt, aims to help households cut down their energy bills and reduce their impact on the environment. PIcture: Dock8 via PIxabay

    Naturally Speaking

    Trinity Concert Band celebrates platinum success. Concert manager and E flat clarinettist stuart Freebody proudly holds the award. Picture courtesy of Trinity Concert Band

    Enjoy a fiesta of a concert in Wokingham

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes: Impossible things to believe?

    Young readers can earn rewards for reading six books this summer. Picture: Amore Seymore via Pixabay

    Open six books, and step into a world of imagination

    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Reading FC

    ‘Reading FC is a sleeping giant’: Club gains new investors just weeks into Couhig’s takeover

    Reading FC owners Todd Trosclair and Rob Couhig

    Rob Couhig speaks on the future of Reading FC’s Academy and Category One status

    The Select Car Leasing Stadium

    Reading FC’s pitch set for major improvements ahead of 2025/26 campaign

    Cricket Picture: Wikimedia Commons

    Berkshire CCC look to seek revenge against Cheshire

    Sell Before We Dai

    Supporters’ Trust at Reading joins 21-group alliance calling for Football Governance Bill amendment

    The Forest School U15s football team

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Sam Green and Megan Bartlett, who both took part in the Wokingham half marathon earlier this year. Pic: Harry McBain.

    Sam and Megan take Sumas supporters’ awards

    Reading FC

    Former Reading FC player announces shock international retirement

    Reading FC - Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading FC star player linked with transfer to Wrexham

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

    Annual photography exhibition starts today

    Trinity Concert Band celebrates platinum success. Concert manager and E flat clarinettist stuart Freebody proudly holds the award. Picture courtesy of Trinity Concert Band

    Enjoy a fiesta of a concert in Wokingham

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes: Impossible things to believe?

    Hands-up: Doreen and Lizzie Picture: WADE Day Care Centre

    Smiles, Songs and Good Company – The Wade Experience

    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

    This year's event is being held on Saturday, June 14.

    Carnival fun is coming to Woodley

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Mike's company, Kill A Watt, aims to help households cut down their energy bills and reduce their impact on the environment. PIcture: Dock8 via PIxabay

    Naturally Speaking

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes: Impossible things to believe?

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    A government push for more radiotherapy machines has been welcomed by ministers as the Royal Berkshire Hospital is among the services to benefit from them.

    Royal Berks one of 28 Trusts to see new radiotherapy machine investment

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

    Retrospective plans have been refused. Pic: WBC.

    Vending machine plans refused

    Mind in Berkshire, which provides support, advice, and signposting for mental health services in Berkshire, was commissioned to examine Black people's access to necessary services, as part of a wider drive from the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to address inequalities in local services. Picture: PixaBay

    Mind in Berkshire report finds serious deficits in mental health provisions for Black people

    AB Walker

    VAUGHAN, David Raymond

    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home What's On Arts

A warm welcome awaits at Wargrave Theatre's pantomime, Anatasia

by Phil Creighton
January 16, 2020
in Arts, Entertainment, Featured, Wargrave, Wokingham
Wargrave Theatre Workshop

Some of the cast of Anatasia, which is performed by Wargrave Theatre Workshop this Janauary Picture: Phil Creighton

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

IT’S THOUGHT to be the first pantomime to be based on real-life events and organisers of the show are hoping you won’t give it the cold shoulder when it’s performed next week. 

Members of Wargrave Theatre Workshop have been busy over the past few months preparing to present its version of Anatasia, a story based on one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century – what happened to the lost Russian princes? 

The fast-moving show starts in the opulence of the Russian Empire, heads into the poverty of the Revolution and ends up in the magnificence of 1920s Paris. 

A full-cast play, it is sure to tickle the funnybones while bringing the community together. 

The hotly-anticipated play is directed by Linda Daman, who is enjoying the experience. 

“It’s a pantomime with a plot, which is quite unusual,” she said. “The challenge we have is to get the action in and the funny bits too.”

Related posts

Wargrave homes in former restaurant

Flooded home in Wargrave sees fire crews rescue four people

Some of the story is quite dark, but the pantomime, by necessity, glosses over some of that to ensure that it’s a family-friendly treat. 

And like all good pantos, it’s a travel-hopping special.

“It’s an opportunity to go to Russia, enjoy some Russian songs and Russian costumes,” Linda says, adding that some of the Matryoshka nesting dolls also feature as part of the show. “It contrasts with Paris.”

Linda takes her role as director seriously and spent Christmas visiting three different professional pantomimes. 

“I went for pleasure, but you do pick up ideas, particularly costume ideas,” she explains. “It’s interesting to see how a professional show differs to an amateur one. They can almost be a bit rigid in what they do, and with fewer people. 

“We have 25 adults on our stage.”

Add to that schoolchildren and you’ll understand why there are three choreographers on duty. 

She continues: “It’s a responsibility. I like to give everybody something. The very busy chorus also get as much of a chance to entertain as the stars of the show. If everybody has something they’re happy and have a good work ethic.”

And Wargrave Theatre Workshop has a long history of pantomime – this is the sixth that Linda has directed, and she’s aware of the responsibility she faces to make ‘em laugh. 

“I want Anatasia to be a success,” she says. “Tickets for Wargrave pantos sell like hotcakes, everyone looks to go to it. 

“We have to make it as good as it was in previous years, but also different. I always try and bring something new to it, change the format slightly and try things in different places to keep it fresh.”

Anastasia The Pantomime is performed at Woodclyffe Hall in Wargrave on Wednesday, January 22 to Sunday, January 26. Curtain up is at 8pm Wednesday to Saturday, with a 1pm and 4pm matinee on Saturday and a 1pm matinees on Sunday. For more details, or to book tickets, log on to www.wargravetheatre.co.uk or call 0333 666 3366.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: AnatasiaPantomimeWargravewargrave theatre workshop
Previous Post

Knitters help animals injured in Australian bush fires

Next Post

Beehind the bench: Bracknell Bees claim first home win of 2020

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Trinity Concert Band celebrates platinum success. Concert manager and E flat clarinettist stuart Freebody proudly holds the award. Picture courtesy of Trinity Concert Band

Enjoy a fiesta of a concert in Wokingham

May 30, 2025
Reading FC - Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs Picture: Luke Adams

Reading FC star player linked with transfer to Wrexham

May 27, 2025
The house in Linkway, Crowthorne is set to be demolished and replaced with a self build modern home. Credit: Bracknell Forest Council

‘Cool’ design for selfbuild home in Crowthorne approved

May 26, 2025
Earley Station

Petition calling for crossing at Earley Station presented to council

May 26, 2025
A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

Banking hub plans for village

May 28, 2025
Woodley & Earley Lions Club has recently welcomed their newest joiner. Picture: Woodley & Earley Lions Club

Lions club welcomes eighth new member in 12 months

May 25, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.