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A Welcome from our President

Hello there Mums & Dads, Boys & Girls!

It is that magical time of year when we come together to enjoy a traditional tale of fun & laughter, when goodness triumphs & everybody lives happy ever after. Jack & The Beanstalk is one of my favourite Pantos with a story line close to my heart. It is good sometimes when the big fellow takes a tumble. Paignton Panto Productions work hard year after year to bring us top rate entertainment for all ages. Each year it just seems to get better & better. I would like to express my thanks & appreciation to all involved. It is a real privilege & pleasure to be the President of this marvellous Pantomime Society: the “P” in P.P.P.!

Often, youngsters’ first experience of theatre is a trip to the Pantomime & I have many happy memories of childhood visits to this wonderful theatre. It really seems to come alive when there is the echo of laughter, applause & audience participation. I do hope the Dame behaves herself this year. (Editors comment – no chance !!) .  We should all be grateful we have such a splendid facility, which is enjoying a whole new lease of life after its recent makeover. So, sit back, relax & make the most of every moment! Forget the cares of the world & immerse yourself in the world of make believe, where a few beans tossed aside may lead to something very unusual growing at the bottom of your garden.

NICK BYE (ELECTED MAYOR OF TORBAY AND PRESIDENT OF PPP)

A welcome from the Chairman

We have a fantastic pantomime for you which I know you are going to enjoy.  The cast are ready to knock your socks off!  I am really pleased to welcome you to our gorgeous Palace Theatre where we will transport you to the Village of Peasleby Green.  The villagers are in a spot of trouble and they will need your support to deal with the dreadful giant who is tormenting them all.  So be ready to shout out and help in Jack's adventure! Along the way we will treat you to some great music and dance. 

I would like to thank the whole society, especially the brilliant production team, who have all worked extremely hard to produce a truly wonderful, fun packed pantomime. 

Thank you once again for your continued support and may we take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.  We look forward to seeing you and all your friends back again next year!

COLIN GILDERTHORP

It is true what they say ! The older you get, the faster time flies. I really cannot believe that almost a year has flown by since last years Paignton Pantomime. Well, here we are again, ready to entertain you with an old favourite. When we were debating which title to present this year, we did look at a couple of pantomimes that would have been new to PPP, but in the end we plumped for this script because it has lots of humour and a good range of roles.

While the very busy committee have been busy arranging the pantomime since January, the real action commenced in August when we auditioned the principals. We followed this up with dancers and chorus auditions in early September, and started rehearsals in late October. This year, of course, we have kept an ever watchful eye on the progress of Swine Flu. So far, as at the time of writing, it has not had a great impact on rehearsals. (Am I tempting fate by saying that ?) although as of December 3 rd our principal boy Dean (Jack) is ill in bed !!! In addition it hasn’t had any affect on our bookings which at the time of writing, are well up on last years success. Fingers crossed !!

I would never be able to get this show on the road on my own, and once again I have had my usual partners in crime. John Amery has arranged the music and tinkled the ivories at rehearsals and Elaine Johnson and Amanda Coote have once again worked wonders at dance rehearsals. It’s not an easy job staging the dance routines. It isnt just a case of one session to set a routine. Most of the dance numbers involved dancers, chorus and junior dancers, all doing different dance steps of varying degrees of complexity. Therefore each routine has to be set three times. Then of course there is the constant revision over the weeks to ensure that everyone learns the routines. On top of the choreographers working hard with the cast, they have the director (me) constantly going on at them to smile, and sing out, and put lots of energy into the routines and not be “half baked” about it all, and to cap it all, the musical director moans about the words not being heard properly and to sing in tune. And you thought pantomime was a “doddle” !! Anyone who joins PPP soon realises that it is VERY hard work to get our shows up to scratch, but the end results always speak for themselves. No-one likes being in a bad show, everyone loves being in a good show, and good shows take lots of rehearsal. Our cast always seem to enjoy themselves, despite the hard work, or maybe it’s because of the hard work. This commitment brings everyone very close together and strong friendships are forged.

We have many PPP regulars in the cast, as usual, but we also welcome Andrew Prowse who plays two completely contrasting roles (Giant and Humphrey) and Meg Smerdon who is hoofing it as the rear of the cow. Georgena Johnson (Fairy) and Laura Balcombe (cows eating end) have been promoted from the dancers to the principal line up, and Alicia Leaman (Snatchet) has been promoted form the chorus.

At the end of the day, to hear the response of the children in the audience makes all the effort worthwhile, so do please tell everyone about PPP and if you want to have a go yourself, then contact a society official (details elsewhere in the programme) and come and join us.