Globus Theatre’s family panto is back for 2022, with the Bobcaygeon theatre company presenting Cinderella at the Lakeview Arts Barn over two weekends until December 18.
The Globus Theatre production is a traditional British pantomime, a form of theatrical entertainment for families that involves music, topical jokes, gender-crossing actors, and slapstick comedy. Often inspired by fairy tales or nursery stories, pantos are produced around Christmas and audience members are encouraged to participate in the fun.
Based on the classic fairy tale, Globus Theatre’s Cinderella follows Cinders, her best friend Buttons, her Fairy Godmother, and a host of comedy characters as they join forces against Cinders’ Wicked Stepmother and her very Ugly Stepsisters.
Globus Theatre’s 16th annual panto was written by Globus artistic director Sarah Quick, a native of Britain, who says pantos are a phenomenon in England during the holidays, with top actors starring in them and large theatres packed with families ever day for weeks.
“I grew up performing in pantomimes in the UK,” Quick says. “It was the thing that sparked my love of acting and encouraged me to make theatre my career. In fact. my first professional gig was in a panto in London’s West End 25 years ago now.”
Globus Theatre’s annual panto is also an opportunity for community actors, both young and young at heart, to mix with professional actors on the stage. Many cast members of Cinderella are participants in Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts, who will join six professional actors on stage — Quick as the Wicked Stepmother, Kevin Sepaul and James Barrett as the Ugly Stepsisters, Jack Copland as Buttons, Sasha Luna as Prince Charming, and Rebecca Anne Bloom as Cinderella.
“When Globus Theatre moved to the Lakeview Arts Barn in 2006, I knew that I wanted to offer the kids in our community the same experience I had growing up,” Quick explains. “To see so many on our stage this year is a joy. They do such a great job alongside our professional cast and audiences are going to love the energy, jokes, romance, and sheer zaniness.”
While most theatre companies producing pantos these days create both a “nice” version of the show for children and a “naughty” version for adults, traditional British pantos instead cleverly incorporate adult-oriented humour in a way that goes over the head of the children in the audience. Children enjoy the action, songs, and audience participation, with adults loving the local references and innuendos.
“Panto is a great tradition of performance that appeals to every generation of family, making it the perfect festive trip out,” Quick says.
Prior to the public performances, Globus Theatre performed two sold-out shows of Cinderella for local schools,
This year, Globus Theatre has added extra weekend matinee performances to accommodate everyone who wants to enjoy the show. Performances of Cinderella take place at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (December 9 and 10 and 16 and 17), at 2 p.m. on Saturdays (December 10 and 17), and at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays (December 11 and 18). An optional three-course Christmas dinner is available at 6 p.m. before the evening performances.
Theatre-only tickets are $32.50 for adults and $18.50 for children and students under 18. The optional dinner is an additional $45 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under. Theatre-only tickets are available online at globustheatre.com/current-season/2022/cinderella or by calling the box office at 705-738-2037 (toll free at 1-800-304-7897). For the dinner option or for group rates, call the box office. All tickets prices are subject to HST and a $2 box office fee.
