As I write, Much Ado About Nothing is about to have it’s final dress rehearsal, but as you read this – it’s all packed away.
I hope some of you saw this very good looking, energetic and (I think) funny production of the famous Shakespeare play, with romance, drama and plenty of absurd comedy – not very far from panto in places.
And speaking of panto, that’s where we are going next!
Cinderella will be this year’s offering from HHTC, with performances in December from the 5th to the 8th and from the 12th to the 15th.
Last month it was all about creating a beautiful summer garden, with a rose covered arbour and a pergola dripping with wisteria. This month, the challenges for our very talented back stage personnel range from pumpkins and Fairy coaches to a transformation scene and the all-important magical ball dress and glass slippers.
Lynda Livsey-Randall is directing with James Hale as musical director and Zoe Mackie as choreographer; and all those sparkly costumes will be provided by Giselle Yoh-Fowles and her band of stitchers. As Lynda says: “A crack in-house team”.
This year, we have two choruses of children, so there will be plenty of mice and frog footmen; and there will also be a pantomime horse called Dacorum Dumpling. The Baron hopes that he will prove to be a prize-winning race horse, but I’m not so sure…
“It’s going to be a family panto,” says Lynda. “We shall be doing two signed performances, one afternoon and one evening, plus one relaxed performance for the neuro-diverse.”
Now is the time to book your seats to make the HHTC panto a part of your Christmas celebrations; but do hurry up, because our pantos get sold out very quickly!
