It’s that time of year again when families across Somerset put on their winter warmers and head out into the cold for that good old seasonal favourite: the pantomime! Friday sees the start of this year’s pantomime season, kicking off at East Coker. This beautiful and tranquil village, lying just two miles south of Yeovil, may only have a population of 1,700, but it has the honour of being first out of the blocks for the 2024/25 season with panto favourite Sleeping Beauty.
And once the panto season starts, it quickly gets into it’s stride. This year the Cinderella Trophy Competition for pantomimes has six entries before Christmas. If your society hasn’t sent in its entry form yet, you’d better hurry up because time is running out.
This year’s stand-in moderator for the competition, Sam Allen said, “I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s shows. We have plenty of old favourites such as Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, but there are also a few surprises like Sinbad the Sailor, Panto at the OK Corral and Ever After.” Moderating the shows involves lots of travel on dark winter nights but Sam reckons its worth it: “The warmth of the welcome we always receive and the pure joy in the eyes of the kids, combined with the enthusiasm of the performers is always such a pleasure that it makes the long journeys worthwhile.”
And this year’s adjudication team is ready to go too. At the pre-season meeting in September, the team was determined to make this another great year of panto competition. They will be on the look-out for performances that are a little bit special, ideas that are original and spectacular, and side-splitting comedy. As well as great song and dance and technical brilliance.
Sam will be writing a short review of each show in Spotlight and the societies can expect a full adjudication from their moderator a short time after their run ends. The big night, The Awards Evening, will once again be at Batch Country House, which was such a popular venue last year. This season's big night will be on 16 May 2025.
So, lots to look forward to. To everyone involved in panto this year: let’s make it a good one! Break a leg!!
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