Panto - Is it fun to go?

[Earlybird]

Noticing all the ads in newspapers for the next wave of panto - various shows starring Twiggy, Patsy Kensit, Melinda Messenger, Christopher Biggins, Simon Callow, Stephen Gately, Toyah Willcox, etc.
These must do big business, but I don't think I know anyone who's ever been to one. Have you been? What was it like? Horrible, good fun, dreadful but still a good seasonal tradition?

We've just booked for Tintin - between Christmas & New Year - ds & dd & us & all their grandparents. Posting really so as to warn people that lots of tickets gone already - it's selling out.

Octobernow...what about the chase scene through the audience?

We go to the Nottingham Playhouse one every year, not the Theatre Royal ('celeb' panto). Last year we booked immediately after the performance our seats for this year.

Usually it's been SIL and me and three children but last also my mum and dad, SIL's mum and my aunt and uncle so this year we booked for all the dads to be included and grandparents. It'll be a real family outing.

I love it. DD's school takes them to a production elsewhere so she doesn't see the same thing twice.

When I was little my dad took us kids and my gran to the Nottingahm Theatre Royal one every Boxing Day afternoon to give my mum a break. Then later on in January my mum took us to the Nottingham Playhouse one cos she loved that one

sobernow, fabulous list I will sit, clipboard at the ready, through my workplace panto this year (we are doing an Old Vic and having a one-off).
binkie, we are seeing Tintin on the 17th December and so looking forward to it. It's one of our favourites in the series.

I went to see Mother Goose a few years ago and was completely shocked, it was great. It was an irish company who did it and they had some excellent people starring in it.

They were well aware of the need for some adult content and the baddies took on the role of germans (wartime stylee), close to the bone I know but that was what made it funny. They were very brave and it paid off.

I dont think DS is old enough this year but when he is I will certainly be looking for them again.

love panto and my children have gone since they were tiny. DS3 was weeks old. Not big proffesinal ones full of people that love them selves though.

We are taking ds to see cinderella on 20th dec..assuming I am up to it as baby being induced 15th..lol I am looking forward to it as he is just 2 so will sit still long enough to watch.

Fascinating thread. Have never taken my children but I used to go every year to the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Saw John Nettles one year Babes in the Wood, I think) as the baddie - he was excellent.

Went every year as a child and loved it, despite my mum being so embarrassingly loud with her 'It's behind you! etc. Best experience was Robinson Crusoe (bizarre as a pantomime subject, I know) at Norwich Theatre Royal when I was 11. It was my birthday that day and Benny from 'Crossroads', who was Robinson Crusoe called my name out and I had to go up to the stage to get some sweets.
We've been for the last 4 years with dd1 (8). Dd2 (4) has been twice and they love it, whether it's 'professional' panto or the local amateur one. Best ones I've been to: Chipping Norton and Coventry.

Sobernow, I'd LOVE to know whis theatre you ran, and when!
I run a performance venue, and am in the middle of some hilarious H&S issues!

This all sounds very familiar sobernow . Our H & S Committee meetings last three hours on average of which approximately 2.5 hours consist of Technical Theatre alarums and trivia. And they set the fire alarms off pretty much daily while going about standard stage management business, which is hilarious for the rest of us.

Reporting back to say that dd and I went to the "Snowman" yesterday. We both loved it. We've talked non-stop since seeing it about our favourite scenes, the best costumes, etc. It really was magical, and a lovely thing to do together.

Thanks to binkie and everyone else who suggested it.

How are the rest of you faring with your holiday theatre choices?

We took ds to his first panto last year, when he was 5. It was a semi-amatuer production (no one famous in it) at Cheltenham Everyman, and it was Brill. Ds loved watching the panto, and I loved watching him.

Part way thru' ds turned to me and said "Mummy, I'm enjoying this so much I NEVER want it to end".

Ahhhhhh

Well we have been to our first of the year - last Wednesday, and we have about 2 more to go!! DH is such a snob about them as he has been in the York Panto and he swears it has ruined him for anything else (RUINED said in a loud theatrical actorly way, with a huge sigh ) He has also done Colchester and Bury St Edmunds, but this year none.

My college did a one-off, highly trad vintage Cinderella script this year, with student actors in all the roles (ie, no celebs). It honestly was magical and ds, six, loved it. So did I.
Crunchie, LOL at your dh. I bet he's glad he's not in the Old Vic production, which nearly ruined panto forever for me.
Anyone else booked for Tintin in London before 17th December? We're going then (I know binkie is seeing it between Xmas and the New Year).

Meant to say, when I was a child we were taken to the Panto every year (my grandma's treat). Usually it was at the Sheffield Lyceum, which was a terrific theatre then, but for several years they really splashed out and we went to the London Palladium. I still vaguely remember Wendy Craig as Peter Pan there.

I do think Panto is an essential part of any child's development.

Earlybird, that's lovely! We're planning our trip.

Dd is also very keen on seeing The Sleeping Beauty in January - Royal Ballet I think? There's a poster we pass in the tube and she asks every time. (I think I might let ds off that one, though.)

I went to see Peter Pan in Swindon on Saturday it was absolutely brilliant!! And hunky Max Farnham from Brookie was in it. Cooooorrrrr!!!!! Go and see it if you live near there its a great night and the kids loved it.

We saw Tintin at the Barbican on Saturday and anyone who has booked for this is in for such a treat. We had a fabulous time, they got a standing ovation at the end, and it was fun, clever and moving. The ideal of what theatre should be like for children I think, but the acid test was that grown-ups of all ages were appreciating the imaginative staging, great music and excellent script. I won't say much about specifics as there are some great surprises, but all the cast are very good. There is a sad/scary (but sensitively done IYSWIM) bit at the point where they find the plane wreckage.
It is much more faithful to the book than I was expecting, too

We went to Dick Whittington at London Zoo today. I chose there because DD is only 2yrs 9mos and I thought we could always go round the Zoo if she couldn't tolerate it. She LOVED it! It was very good, lots of fun, great singing, corny jokes, lots of AP and shouting, good costumes. A bit cold as its in a temporary tent but not too bad and the sets (prob because of the tent) were rudimentary but fine. I would recommend it and may try a "proper" one next year.