The Xmas pantos are being cancelled

[TBHno]

1st world problem , I know...

My local theatre has just cancelled their Xmas panto

Panto is something I look forward to every Christmas. As a kid, I even performed in them a few times. Seeing one in the run-up to xmas is a big part of the hype for me. Seeing the kids get all dressed up and excited is great too.

It's one of those things that has to be live because the participation is a big part of it.

Xmas just won't be the same.

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Being a Scrooge here but I'm pleased. DD always wants to go and I can't bear another year of paying £50 to listen to Bobby Davro's awful innuendos and some prick from the local radio station appropriating womanhood.

[clairedelalune]

I'm just hoping we get to spend Christmas as normal and not in another lockdown

[Comefromaway]

Sadly it was inevitable. I feel so sorry for everyone who will now be out of work. My dd was in panto as a juvenile and will possibly be auditioning next year as a dancer.

I consoled myself by watching Philip Joel’s hilarious video called If Panto is Cancelled.

twitter.com/philipjoel/status/1290256843269271552?s=21

[Tvci5]

It's really sad. A lot of small theatres need the panto season to survive

[Luaa]

We took our DDS for the first time last year and they loved it, but I'm kind of glad. I found it a bit cringy and I hated the ott "women". I found it quite offensive, and then I felt uptight for being offended at a panto.

[Lansonmaid]

There’s a lot of theatres particularly in the regions that won’t survive this, and there will be huge numbers of people unemployed- not just those on the stage but all the tech crews as well.

I was hoping that our church choir would be singing again for Advent / Christmas but I’m not hopeful. Just won’t be Christmas without 9 lessons and carols and the midnight service 😢

[TBHno]

I agree that they can be offensive, but it's not the script I go for. It's the nostalgia, and the Xmas spirit!

[Leaannb]

@TBHno

I agree that they can be offensive, but it's not the script I go for. It's the nostalgia, and the Xmas spirit!

Christmas Spirit is about being offensive?

[GoldStripes]

Ahhh no!

We went to the Rock & Roll panto at the Everyman in Liverpool for the first time last year. We were dragged along to it to be honest but we were surprised by how good it was! Was looking forward to it this year.

I really hope that we can keep some semblance of a normal Christmas this year, I can’t bear the thought of Christmas in lockdown.

[dementedma]

Heart goes out to all the performers and stage crew whose livelihoods have been shattered. DS had 4 paying gigs cancelled this year, including the Edinburgh Festival, and has nothing lined up for 2021.
My niece is a stage manager who also now has no work. It’s an overlooked sector in the Covid fallout

[unchienandalusia]

Feel for the regional theatres, staff and performers who are losing their livelihood!

[Drivingdownthe101]

Sadly this will mean the demise of lots of theatres. Many rely on panto season to keep them afloat.

[happystory]

I fear people involved in the theatre have a very difficult time ahead....

[NotGenerationAlpha]

I live near southampton and the brilliant new NST has Christmas musical. They are brand new productions. We went the last two years (they only opened only 2 years ago), and both billionaire boy and Cinderella were great fun. None of that cringey innuendo and jokes. Sadly the theatre company has already gone under. I feel quite sad about it. I think many others will go bankrupt too.

[Floralnomad]

I loathe panto so I’m not the slightest bit bothered .

[SugarMiceInTheRain]

I really feel for everyone involved. A small local theatre where I have performed several times has had to start redundancy consultations because without panto season they can't stay afloat so all staff except the theatre caretaker are being made redundant when furlough ends. It's so sad. And yes, the thought of Christmas in lockdown is really depressing.

[IntermittentParps]

It's really sad. A lot of small theatres need the panto season to survive
Not just small ones. Many theatres rely on panto.

I'm very worried about this as obviously it's people's livelihoods. I'm also worried that it's a harbinger of doom for my DP's sector, which is not theatre but is to do with gatherings. He's had no work since February and is hoping things will pick up for the winter/Xmas season, but this doesn't look good.

[ShowOfHands]

I'm gutted about our local Christmas Market too. We've been every year for a very, very long time and presumably, all those people who rely on fetes, markets etc are affected.

Our choir usually does a dozen gigs over Christmas. None this year.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

I am at a loss to see how many industries can survive this. Hospitality and the arts especially, and then all the business that rely on those... it's going to be a dreadful year :(

[Drivingdownthe101]

@Floralnomad

I loathe panto so I’m not the slightest bit bothered .

Even if you’re not bothered about panto (I’m not, I haven’t been since I was a child), the fact that it will result in the loss of people’s livelihoods and the closure of theatres is something to be bothered about.

[BobFleming]

That's hard for the people that depend on panto season for their income.

And I say that as someone who has never seen the attraction and squirmed through every naff second of pantomimes when mine were small.

[VictoriaBun]

I live in a rural location, one of our more local towns has a very good theatre. We always pre book the whole season which is usually 9 productions a year including the year end festive preformance ( they don't call it panto !)
The first of the shows was in March and initially 3 performances were cancelled. In May they made the decision to cancel the whole year. It's also been announced they are making nearly 40 redundancies which is a real shame.

[ClementineWoolysocks]

I feel sorry for the staff etc who won't be working but I'd rather gouge out my own eyes with an ice cream scoop than sit through a panto.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I'm gutted. We go to the panto every Christmas eve, it's our tradition.

[Mothermorph]

We often go to pantomime. DH nearly always says he wont go but he ends up laughing at all the jokes aimed at grumpy dads. Our panto always has a few (minor) celebs or ex east enders in it but usually there are a few not well known actors who are loads better.
Thing with theatre is that its not just the theatre itself and the actors, backstage, and front of house crew but theres often associated businesses. Coach companies who organise theatre/sports trips, refreshments and caterers that supply theatres, cafes, bars and restaurants nearby, printers who do all the programmes etc there is such a knock on effect.