CHRISTMAS IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR FAMILIES and that’s certainly true for this year’s Panto at the Boxmoor Playhouse.
Seven different HHTC families have more than one member performing in Babes in the Wood, which will be on stage during the first two weekends of December.
Once again, this year’s panto has a children’s chorus and many – although not all – of these has a parent in the adult cast.
Director Dan Shirley has TWO adult family members taking part: his wife, Fiona and their daughter Lauren, a professional actress and dancer, who is doing all the choreography for the show as well as well as taking part.
“This is what makes community theatre so special,” says Dan. “We really believe in having children in our pantos – and with this show, they are literally written into the title.”
There are actually two teams of children because of strict laws governing the number of performances each child may do, so we actually have four babes – two Pips and two Pennies! On Sundays, the children’s rehearsal day, the Playhouse hall is full, not only of actors large and small, but also of qualified chaperones, keeping a sharp but friendly eye on the children.
Many of you will already know that Babes in the Wood also incorporates Robin Hood and his Merry Men plus Dame Molly Coddle, the children’s nurse, and, of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham, who is the villain. As you may imagine, green hats, green tights, bows and arrows and Sherwood Forest feature significantly in this panto!
Tickets are flying out but, at the time of writing, there are a few left so go to our website and see what you can find. Theatre | HHTheatreCo | Hemel Hempstead
