Gravesend pantomime will go ahead this Christmas
14:00, 18 August 2020
updated: 15:10, 18 August 2020
A Christmas pantomime will go ahead despite fears over the coronavirus.
The future of the annual event in Gravesend was under the spotlight for a while as other productions across the county, including one at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, were cancelled.
However, theatre bosses have been working long and hard to create a "special socially distanced" show for families.
Originally billed was Aladdin which has now been postponed until 2021. This year's performance is now Rapunzel – the tale of a girl who is locked inside a tower in the middle of the woods – in a bid to make social distancing easier.
Wicked Productions chief Tom Swift has been working hard on finding the balance of bringing festive cheer and remaining safe.
He said: “We have managed to create a show which keeps audiences, theatre people and everyone on stage and backstage safe. In fact, it has allowed us to introduce hilarious elements into the production because of the need to maintain the romance despite the restrictions.
“Every cloud has a silver lining, so we are pleased to be able to confirm that revised VAT rates mean that this year’s panto tickets will be even better value as Gravesham council and Wicked Productions will be passing on these savings to our lovely audience.
“So if you are not already one of the thousands who say Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to The Woodville for the annual panto, this is your chance.”
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, cabinet member for community and leisure, welcomed the news that panto is going ahead.
He said: “I am really glad and would like to thank the teams at The Woodville and Wicked Productions for working hard to ensure that one of the great British traditions at Christmas time is still being put on in a safe and Covid secure way for everyone to enjoy.
“It sounds like a great show has been put together and I look forward to joining the audience with my own family.”
Tickets for the 90-minute show, which won't have an interval for safety reasons, will go on sale on September 10, and shows will run from December 11 to January 3.
There will be a reduced capacity of 180 tickets per performance.
Woodville manager Mandy Hare said: “We will, of course, be adhering to all government guidelines that are put in place for this season to help us to stay safe. These measures will mean the experience will feel a little different, but I can assure our patrons that we will do all we can to make your trip to The Woodville fun and fabulous and full of Christmas joy.
“All customers who have tickets for Aladdin will be contacted by us so that they can move or change their tickets and they will also be given priority booking for Rapunzel.”
