The New Strolling Players are living up to their name this December by staging a brand new pantomime, written specially for them by local author Cheryl May. Last year’s show, Happily Ever After, not only won the IW Amateur Theatre Award for Best Pantomime; it drew in lots of new members to the group who will be appearing this year alongside Lewis Pavey (who was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Pantomime) as the Dame. Even the director, Rowanna Earle-Payne, is making her debut in the role. She says:
“It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m really delighted with how collaborative the experience has been. We are so looking forward to putting on another fantastic show for West Wight audiences.”
Based on the traditional tale, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ nevertheless features all the best ingredients of a traditional panto: as well as the Dame there is the Good Fairy Chiffon to cheer, the (thoroughly modern) Princess Taffeta to admire and the evil cousin Wick-Eed to boo. Set in the town of Mirabelle, we see the Emperor Kashmir’s birthday celebrations (knowing the story and looking at the poster, I’m left wondering about his birthday suit…..) which promise lots of fun and laughter. So come along to Freshwater Memorial Hall where ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ will be staged from 14th to 16th December at 19.30 along with a matinee at 14:30 on Saturday 16th. Tickets are available from Topknot and Tails Dog Grooming in Freshwater, Orchard Bros in Freshwater Bay, and BluebytheSea in Yarmouth.
