History
The Pantomime society was formed in 1979 when a small group of people got together with the purpose of putting on a pantomime
in Congleton. After a lot of fundraising and hard work, the first production was staged in Astbury Village Hall in January
1980. The hall could only seat an audience of 120 and the dressing rooms were in caravans in the car park.
The cast sometimes had to brave two or three inches of snow before making an appearance on stage!
After five years at Astbury, Daneside Theatre was completed. The Pantomime members had joined in with fundraising and
helped with painting and other jobs as it neared completion. They staged a mini Pantomime, ‘The Pied Piper’, as their
contribution to the opening show. The group have produced their show at the theatre every year since. The 2009 show will
be the 30th production.
The Cast
Auditions are held, usually in July, for main characters and chorus parts. Details are published in the local paper,
the Congleton Chronicle. There are opportunities for adults and young people to take part.
For many years the talented Dancers and Pantomime Babes have been provided by the local Jean Clarke School of Dancing.
The Audience
The Pantomime group plays to a family audience
(children age 3 and over) and also have group bookings from local schools, Sunday schools and uniformed organisations.
Performances
The annual show runs starting from the second weekend in
January from Saturday to Saturday. There is a performance each evening at 7.30pm excluding Sunday.
There are matinee performances on both Saturdays and on the Sunday. The tickets are on sale in the Information Office
from October and some performances, particularly the matinees, sell out quickly.
Contacts
Ticket can be obtained from Congleton Tourist Information Office,
High Street Congleton. Tel. 01260 271095.
For more information about the group, contact the secretary Mrs Judy Picken 01260 299051
Previous Productions.
At Astbury Village Hall
1980 Sleeping Beauty
1981 Puss in Boots
1982 Aladdin
1983 Queen of Hearts
1984 Jack and the Beanstalk
At Daneside Theatre
1985 Babes in the Wood
1986 Cinderella
1987 Dick Whittington
1988 Mother Goose
1989 Sleeping Beauty
1990 Aladdin
1991 Red Riding Hood
1992 Jack and the Beanstalk
1993 Babes in the Wood
1994 Snow White
1995 Cinderella
1996 Sinbad the Sailor
1997 Puss in Boots
1998 Mother Goose
1999 Aladdin and his Magic Lamp
2000 Cinderella
2001 Dick Whittington
2002 Jack and the Beanstalk
2003 Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs
2004 Babes in the Wood
2005 Sleeping Beauty
2006 Robinson Crusoe
2007 Aladdin
2008 Jack and the Beanstalk