Panto at the Princess this Christmas - oh yes it is!

Panto at the Princess this Christmas - oh yes it is!
Mervyn Francis as Mother Goose

The Princess theatre is thrilled that they are able to continue with the family Christmas tradition of Pantomime in 2020 in a socially distanced way in partnership with Tom Rolfe Productions. They present to you a 5 person cast of 'Mother Goose' lasting approximately 90mins with no interval over a 2 week period.

The story of Mother Goose is possibly the oldest story to be turned into a pantomime. The Pantomime is about Mother Goose herself - not the Goose, who is usually called “Priscilla”, but the part played by the pantomime Dame who is called “ Mother Goose.”

Mother Goose is a mysterious character - an old crone, almost like a kindly witch, a poor woman who befriends a magical goose that provides her with Golden Eggs. She is rich, but there is something she wants more than money- she wants to be young and beautiful.

The story tells of how Mother Goose is about to be thrown off her land because she cannot pay the Squire and his Bailiffs the rent. Along comes Priscilla the goose. Mother Goose loves her as a friend and doesn’t know the good fairy has sent her to help Mother Goose. Priscilla lays golden eggs, and Mother Goose is rich. Along comes the Demon King. He has a bet with the fairy. He claims there is no-one on earth who is happy with what they have got- no one is content. They want more. The fairy Disagrees, and uses Mother Goose as an example of goodness.The Demon King tempts Mother Goose with the one thing she doesn’t have - youth and beauty. He persuades her to give him Priscilla in exchange for a visit to the “Pool of Beauty”. She gives him Priscilla, and enters the pool, emerging as (she thinks) a beautiful woman.

All her friends don’t like her now - they want the old Mother Goose back. Too late she realises that beauty is NOT everything, and that she must get Priscilla back. After a lot of trouble by going to “Goose Court” in Gooseland to plead for Priscilla, she gets her back, and all ends happily ever after.

The Princess is delighted to be welcoming back Mervyn Francis as Mother Goose, their resident dame for the last few years and this is his favourite pantomime. You are in for a real treat. Hannah Kiss who played Alice Fitzwarren in last year’s Dick Whittington, Lynn and Lee Caroll (Sweet & Simple) who were also at the Princess last year as Captain and Mate in Dick Whittington and Tom Shiels as Billy Goose.

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Performances run from Saturday 19th December 2020 to Friday 1st January 2021 (there are also opportunities for schools’ performances prior to 19th and the theatre can accommodate six class bubbles of 30 people - please contact Gemma at the Princess for more information.)

Ticket Prices - Adults £15.00, Children £12.50, Concessions £12.50, Family of 3 £40.00, Family of 4 £50.00

Groups of 10 or more - 1 in 10 goes free (but must be in your social bubbles)

Children's Group Price for 10 or more (Brownies, Scouts, Guides etc) - £10.00 per ticket (children and adults) Please note: not available on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day Performances.

Groups please email Gemma directly at gemma@princesshunstanton.co.uk for more details on how to book.

All prices include booking fee.

A note from the Producer & Director Tom Rolfe: ʻI am thrilled to be returning to The Princess Theatre in Hunstanton this Christmas after directing Dick Whittington last year. The Princess is such a perfect place for pantomime, its intimate, warm and welcoming auditorium provides the perfect platform for families to meet up and ʻwrap up the yearʼ. After what families have gone through this year I feel pantomime will be needed now more than ever and Iʼm so proud that we have managed to find a way to do this as safely as possible. Thereʼs no better tonic than laughter and weʼre going to make sure it is in good supply at the Princess Theatre, Hunstanton this December!ʼ

The Princess is also welcoming a very special guest to the theatre on Sunday 29th December. As part of the Hunstanton Christmas Cracker Father Christmas himself will be switching on the Christmas lights at 5pm! From 2pm he will also be in the theatre where children can meet him and receive a present (all socially distanced of course. Visitors can meet Priscilla the Goose and other Panto characters from our socially distanced pantomime Mother Goose. There will also be two roundabouts outside the theatre for children to ride on all day free of charge, kindly sponsored by Rainbow Park, Hunstanton.

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