“Looking to next year, a lot of it depends on what other

up for a thriving panto scene

Christmas time just wouldn’t be the cheap canada goose uk same without canada goose clearance the great Canada Goose Parka British tradition of pantomime.

Three canada goose coats theatres in the area embrace panto, giving audiences the Canada Goose Coats On Sale chance to experience amateur and professional productions.

The Hippodrome offers a star studded cast each year, this buy canada goose jacket time with the likes of Joan Collins, Julian Clary, Keith Harris, Jeffrey Holland and Nigel Havers.

Malcolm Stent is the familiar face of pantomime in Solihull, and the relative new comers to panto, Canada Goose online Sutton Arts, staged their first amateur pantomime three years ago.

There’s a real passion for pantomime in the West Midlands it’s great fun, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t taken very seriously. Those involved believe canada goose clearance sale there’s a real responsibility that goes with producing a pantomime.

Great uk canada goose British tradition

Sutton Arts Canada Goose Jackets Theatre was established in the 1940s and secured its own premises in 1997, boasting a 150 seat theatre.

Richard Aucott writes, directs and canada goose coats on sale stars in the Sutton canada goose store Arts Theatre pantomime.

“Panto stems back to the Romans (or even before),” says Richard. “But it’s only when it Canada Goose sale came to Britain that it actually started to take shape and certainly in the Victorian era.

“Then it became something quintessentially British, and we now see the canada goose black friday sale likes of Aladdin, Mother Goose and Cinderella.”

Richard says there’s a real buzz canadian goose jacket about working on a pantomime: “There’s great camaraderie with panto.”

As this year’s panto gets underway Sutton Arts Theatre are already looking ahead.”Looking to next year, a lot of it depends on what other companies are canada goose uk outlet doing,” continues Richard. “So we listen for canada topcanadagoose goose factory sale when the Hippodrome and the Grand announce [their productions], it’s uk canada goose outlet not good to have the same people want Canada Goose Outlet different shows.”Historian Carl Chinn reminisced on his Sunday radio show on BBC WM, that when he was younger it was always the Alexandra Theatre that produced the pantomimes.

In an interview on the show, Malcolm Stent also fondly remembered his childhood introduction to pantomime: “Derek Salberg’s family owned the Alexandra Theatre. Derek was known throughout the country as the best pantomime producer like it bar none.

“He was a theatre manager canada goose in the old style. Every night at canada goose uk shop half past six he canada goose uk black friday would be standing in the foyer, in immaculate evening dress, to welcome the punters.”

Malcolm said the first pantomime he was taken to was the old theatre Royal on New buy canada goose jacket cheap Street, then later to the Alex and the Hippodrome “It was magical” he concluded.

This year Malcolm is starring in his 20th pantomime at the Solihull Arts Complex.

Getting the girl

Keith Harris is starring in the Canada Goose Online Hippodrome’s panto Dick Whittington.

Keith says the Birmingham Hippodrome production is up there with the best of them.

“It’s massive, I think it’s the biggest one in the country with the most names in it.

“To get someone like Joan Collins is quite a scoop.

“I’ve met Julian (Clary) and Nigel (Havers) before and Geoffrey Holland from Hi Di Hi.

“I know I’m getting older because this year I end up with the Dame; I used to end up with the principle girl!”

Keith cheap Canada Goose is a real pro when it comes to pantomime. He has produced 25 over the years and this is the 47th one he’s starred in.