Panto Success For Players

This year saw the return of Thetford’s ever popular Panto by the Thetford Players after a lockdown enforced break last year. Alice In Wonderland, A Curious Panto was indeed a very different kind of Panto for the Players. As with so many things the covid pandemic had an impact on the production. Gone were the younger members of the cast, the chorus, elaborate backdrops, make up and hair. In its place were dynamic costumes and a company, each with multiple roles and tasks to keep as covid secure as possible. And the Players triumphed again – with audience members openly saying it was their best Panto to date!

The simple set enabled the cast acting to take centre stage this year. Directors Katie Wright and Craig Plumley along with Producers Jo Cooper and Leonie Sweeden had their job cut out with the Omicron outbreak threatening to derail rehearsals and performances. Highlights of the show included a UV puppetry under water scene and the rock ‘n’ roll caterpillar. Starting with the superb entrance by the White Rabbit, this year’s Panto had all the normal thrills along with a musical theatre soundtrack. Laura Williams made the perfect Alice with notable performances from Beck Powell as the Cheshire Cat, Dave Griffiths as the White Rabbit and Charlie Wilson as the March Hare. Luke Jeffries playing the Knave of Hearts provided the Players most camp villain to date. Gary Largent followed in a long line of joyous Dames, gently teasing his target audience member without having the easy gag of sitting in the unfortunate man’s lap! Adam Bond took his Mad Hatter to a whole new level with an array of accents. Knobby The Door played by Panto favourite Phil Pearson provided enough innuendoes to keep the adults happy with knocker jokes being at the forefront. It should be said that the entire cast acted their socks off and the success of this year’s Panto is very much a company effort. Sue Dupont from NODA said that she ‘just loved the Caterpillar, Tim Lovejoy, in glorious pantaloons plus hookah, and his dancing moths round the toadstools. Fighting Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (Simon Kitching and Lorna Podbury) joined into the action with energy. Not to forget the Mock Turtle of Lynne Jeffries telling her tales on the seashore and beside the Pool leading into a superb UV sequence of sea creatures’. So despite all the obstacles, Alice In Wonderland A Curious Pantomime, the Panto that wasn’t in 2021, was a triumph and gave us all a little bit of post-Christmas normality in our lives. The next Thetford Player’s production will be The Hollow by Agatha Christie on the 8th and 9th July. Tickets available from Leaping Hare Box Office.

The cast of Alice In Wonderland A Curious Pantomine Photos: Neil Coomber-Webb

Thetford Guides Go To The Panto!

On the 22nd January the 1st Thetford Rainbows, 1st Thetford Brownies, 3rd Thetford Brownies, and 1st Thetford Guides united to watch the Thetford Players Alice in Wonderland A Curious Pantomine.

The girls were thrilled to be able to all come together again and enjoy the show! Rooting for Alice in her wonderful adventure and booing the naughty Knave of Hearts! Since its establishment in 1909 The Guides has provided young girls with a safe space to grow in confidence, make new friends, learn new skills, go on adventures, and have fun! It is a fantastic opportunity for girls aged four and up to learn important life skills. All thanks to a brilliant team of volunteers who work together to make guiding happen. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer let us know. If you were interested in joining Girl Guiding or finding out more information please visit our website: www.girlguiding.org.uk Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 17

Hugh Lupton Thrills With

Tales Of Old

From time-to-time Storytellers visit Thetford and entertain us with their tales of old. There’s always a keen following in the town and this was no exception when Hugh Lupton performed in the Guildhall Small Court. Performing ‘Mardling Acre’ Hugh took the audience on a journey through fields and hedgerows, stable yards and onto London Bridge. The performance celebrated the gossiping acres of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and the Fens, conjuring some colourful characters in the process – Charlie Wag, Jack Ostler, Tom-Tit-Tot, Old Nol, the Parson of Sedgeford, John Chapman the Peddler of Swaffham, and the wonderful true tale of Jenny Wing and the Horses.

Storyteller Hugh Lupton with Jane James and one of Billy Bennington’s dancing dolls

Poignant, funny beautifully crafted tales that captivated the audience including a poem written by Thetford’s Thomas Paine. Organised by Jane James from Not Just Books, the intimate performance was interjected with musical moments and a dancing doll once owned by legendary folk musician Billy Bennington.

Hugh Lupton is an award winning storyteller, performer, and author. He has toured nationally and internationally and has performed at the RSC, National Theatre, and the Barbican – and now Thetford Guildhall! Hugh said that he was delighted to perform in the town and continue Thetford’s storytelling tradition. Jane said that she was thrilled to bring storytelling back to town, “it's so nice to be back doing events and storytelling is at the heart of Not Just Books. We hope everyone MCP HP Advert 11.18.qxp_Layout 1 19/11/2018 09:41 Page 1 enjoyed it as much as we did!”

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