PROFESSIONAL PANTO PROMISES TRADITIONAL FAMILY FUN FOR ALL!

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

 Tuesday 9^th December – Sunday 4^th JanuaryThe Swan TheatreTickets: £14.95 (Children £9.95)9^th December – 19^th December (10am) £8.95Block booking £6.95 per ticket-accompanying adults free It’s family fun all the way with this year’s fantastic Professional Pantomime at the Swan Theatre, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.

There’s a handsome hero battling to save the day, a fair maiden to win his heart, an evil scoundrel to boo and hiss at, a couple of blundering baddies, and of course a fabulously dappy dame - the perfect recipe for fantastic family fun. The cast of professional actors are all looking forward to being a part of the adventure this Christmas. Playing the hero of the piece is Simon Bell who trained at The Birmingham School of Acting and two years ago made his professional pantomime debut here at the Swan, playing Prince Valiant in Snow White.

Last year he performed in Rickmansworth as Prince Charming in the commercial pantomime Cinderella and his other stage credits include Lysander in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Jim Hawkins in a tour of Treasure Island. This year Simon is excited to be back in Worcester, with some familiar faces, playing the sword-fighting hero, Robin Hood! Connie Coughddrop (pictured), the essential pantomime Dame, is played by Richard Curnow.

After playing Queen Grizelda in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs in 2006 and Widow Twanky in Aladdin in 2007 Richard is thrilled to bits to be back at the Swan again playing Connie Coughdrop - Oh, yes he is! Among his many other theatre roles he has worked extensively in radio drama including the The Archers and the eponymous role of an autistic man in the critically acclaimed David’s Birthday.

For many years he worked with The English Shakespeare Company and then The Young Shakespeare Company bringing Shakespeare alive to thousands of school children around the country.  He is now co artistic director of FINDING THE WILL a Theatre in Education Company that is determined to make Shakespeare fun for children of all ages - Oh, yes he is! 

The Panto is written and directed by Paul Milton, alongside Chief Executive of Worcester Live, Chris Jaeger. Paul Milton played Herman the Henchman in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sergeant Ping Pong in last year’s Aladdin, and is delighted to be back at the Swan as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.

His panto appearances elsewhere have been numerous and include the title role in Puss in Boots (Windsor), Simple Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk (Colchester), and a rather peculiar Archbishop in Sleeping Beauty (Exeter)!  His other theatre credits include Cabaret (Chichester Festival Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof, the title role in Amadeus (Coventry), and the Judy Garland biography Judy in the West End. Paul’s work as a Director includes the premiere of Rising Son, A Christmas Carol, and the Regency musical It Was A Glorious Night. 

Co writer and director Chris Jaeger said, ”I am so excited about this year’s pantomime. This is the only professional production of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in the country this Christmas, which makes it really special. The focus is on creating an adventure in traditional panto style, great fun whatever age you are” 

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood starts on Tuesday the 9^th December and runs until Sunday the 4^th January. Tickets are priced from £8.95 to £14.95 and are available from the Worcester Live Box Office at Huntingdon Hall, Crowngate or via 01905 611427.