All the fun of the panto; Pantomime & Christmas Fun

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Nov 8, 2008

OH yes, it is ... that time of year again when we all enjoy family shows and the annual pantomime.

WITH festive fun, yule-time mayhem and Christmas buffoonery upon us once more, it can only mean one thing - the arrival of panto season.

No Christmas is complete without a family trip to the theatre, whether for some good natured ritual booing of baddies or an afternoon of mulled wine and carols.

And this year the region looks to have outshone itself once again, boasting a phenomenal line-up of pantomimes, shows and comedy throughout the whole of December and January alike.

A fantastic combination of sing-a-long-songs, dance, laugh-out-loud comedy and true love, the British pantomime is in now an undeniably essent ial par t of Christmas, with many families and adults eagerly antici pating their annual excursion to the panto each year.

Typically aimed at children, panto tells the magical story of our favourite fairy tales or folk lore including classics such as Cinderella, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and SnowWhite to name but a few, and is often a child's first experience of live theatre - not to mention one they'll never forget.

Originally believed to date back to the Middle Ages, pantos boast a fascinating history and over the years have adapted to include many different aspects of theatre from around the world.

Today however, they have become an incredibly popular Christmas accompaniment - and with many productions featuring stars from TV past and present, it can also be a great opportunity to see your favourite actors in action.

You don't have to visit one of the larger theatres for high quality productions and entertainment either.

Many smaller theatres, amateur dramatic societies and community groups put on first class productions over Christmas, and offer brilliant value for money.

What's more, this tradition of a trip to the theatre, has now extended with many other shows too, and if you fancy seeing something different, Christmas is a great time to catch some brilliant performances.

From all-singing, all-dancing stage productions boasting lavish sets and glamour, to top stand-up comedians and music acts or even dramatic plays, there are theatre tickets out there with your name on!

So for an unforgettable night out guaranteed to get you in that holiday mood, book your seats for panto today!

This year the LBT in Huddersfield has something for everyone at Christmas including an annual show for children.

This year the choice is The Gruffalo's Child, following the adventures of a daughter who ignores her father's warning one wild and windy night and goes out into the snowy, deep, dark wood.

This is a treat for all the family.

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The traditional festive pantomime continues to go from strength to strength with the old favourites like Snow White and Cinderella still being as popular as ever. It's always a great treat for the family at Christmas or New Year to enjoy a trip to the local or regional production.