28TH jANUARY 2024
PANTO TIME IS NEARLY UPON US
It’s nearly pantomime time again in Wincanton and this year WADS are very excited to be putting on a much loved family favourite Cinderella.
This version of the fairy tale classic is written by Ben Crocker a seasoned panto writer whose pantos we have used a few times over the years.
Our rendition has been brought to life by directors Dawn Henson and Maggie Benson and it really is a show not to be missed.
This year our small but growing group have an amazing cast, old and new. We have some familiar faces that have been performing with WADS for many many years and have the experience and knowledge to help the newer members grow with their confidence with every performance they take part in.
Our Cinderella is played by Codi Benson who many may remember as Alex in last years Little Mermaid and this year, Amanda Graffham is the thigh slapping Prince of our story rather than the evil baddie that she was last year. Both Codi and Amanda have been with WADS from a young age and were introduced by their families who have also been a part of WADS for many many years, so lots of experience here.
Dandini is played by Jae James, a new member to the WADS family who has fitted in as if she has been with us for years! Charlie Bentley takes the role of the lovable and best friend of Cinderella, Buttons. Charlie has written, performed and directed pantos for WADS in the past and after a year off the stage she is bringing her expertise back to the boards.
When it comes to the ugly sisters we have two very seasoned performers. Mike Benson has been dressing up in womans clothes for WADS for years as well as creatively designing and painting our scenery. Mike is a very experienced Dame who is always a firm favourite with the cast and the audience alike. This year he is joined by our very own chairperson Jayne Bentley who herself is no stranger to writing, directing, producing, running back stage and acting to boot. Jayne is a founding member who puts everything she has into the running and production of WADS.
The Baron and his lovely wife Devilia are played by Paul Adams and Clare Barker. Paul has been in two pantos before for WADS and enjoys spending time with the cast and crew. Clare has been with WADS for around 8 years and has spent the last couple of pantos back stage hiding in the wings. When the chance to play the baddie that suited her came up, she couldn't wait to get back on the stage. A really great pairing to work together who also have a lot of experience in panto behind them.
Snitch and Snatch are played by Barnaby Taylor and Hazel Perrett. Joining WADS this year, Barnaby is also a member of Wincanton Youth Theatre (WYT) and is bringing his energy to his pairing with Hazel. Hazel has been the Sheriff of Nottingham and Tempest in our last two pantos and performs in many other shows with many different societies as well. Another excellent pairing who work well together.
For a touch of magic we have the Fairy Godmother played by Hope Cook. Like Barnaby and Hazel, Hope has also been part of WYT. She has also been in our last two pantos playing a Rabbit in Robin Hood and Charlie in the Little Mermaid.
It's not often that two people play the same part and we don't mean as an understudy. Last, but by no means least, we have Dani Wood and Clare Day. Together they are playing the part of Winky the Wonder Horse our pantomime horse. You’ll have to try and guess who is at which end!
Our chorus members this year are again a mixture of WADS members old and new. Siobhan Domoney, Yosef Janech, Poppy Martin, Grace Leydon, Owen Hance, and our newest members Martha Roberts, Zack Godfrey, Summer Mohamed and Vivian Mora-Froud. Over the years some of our younger members leave to go to college or university, so it's always nice to see new younger members joining us. The next generation!
We have all been working really hard to put on a great show and with just 2 rehearsals left, we can’t wait for opening night.
So much time, effort and dedication goes into every pantomime that we all love to produce for our community and the surrounding areas. There are costumes, props, lighting, sound effects, dances to learn, lines to learn and songs to learn! It is all go from September until show night in February. We are a team of volunteers with the same passion.
Cinderella is on at the Memorial Hall in Wincanton. We have one show on Friday the 16th February at 7.30 pm and two shows on Saturday. Our afternoon performance is at 2pm and our evening performance is at 7.30 pm.
Tickets can be purchased using our ticket source link or alternatively you can purchase them at the door.
We can’t wait for the curtains to open and look forward to seeing you there. So please come and support this and our future shows.
Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Where Community Spirit Isn't Just An Act
Dani, Paul & Gina
10th fEBRUARY 2023
One Week to go
This year’s pantomime is The Little Mermaid. It’s one of my favourite fairy tales and Disney films. There is something so magical about a mermaid willing to give up her soul in order to find true love.
Around 4 years ago (possibly a bit longer) I decided that I wanted to write an adaption as a pantomime. I have a writing background, including a diploma in script writing, but nothing, and I really do mean nothing prepared me for writing a pantomime.
The rules of writing don’t apply in pantomime, and this was hard for me to get my head around. I kept starting over as it wasn’t right and eventually I asked Charlie Bentley if she would help me turn my script into a pantomime.
For the next few months I had to learn a completely different writing style. Charlie would read what I had written and send me back to rewrite it. I couldn’t get my head around having no sub plots or character development. It’s almost like you take your story and give it the bare bones. Pantomimes have a format; it is just different in many ways to how you would ordinarily write a script. Once I was shown the format (Thank you Charlie) I was able to go back and work within it.
Charlie sat down with me and went through scenes. She helped me structure them to account for scene changes. Helped me with how much of the stage we would need for each scene, lighting style etc. Although I have written plays before, they have been darker in nature, and had less scene changes etc to think about due to their setting.
We spent hours picking the right songs for the characters and scenes. Some were easy, others took a lot longer. I think I wanted everything to be perfect, but this is panto, and panto is never perfect. That’s the beauty of pantomimes.
As Charlie had helped me write it, it seemed fitting for her to come on board as my co-director. I couldn’t imagine directing it without her as this is my first time directing.
Directing has been a huge learning curve. Like all directors on their first stint I have made mistakes, things haven’t always gone to plan, but the cast we have are amazing and have been so supportive. And we have a pantomime that we are very proud of.
Watching the script come to life on the stage is something that I’m not sure I can find the words to describe, each week the rehearsals get better, and the characters are brought to life. It’s hard to believe that in just a few short weeks it will be Panto time.
I’m really proud of everything myself and Charlie have achieved. It really has been a team effort. From the writing and directing, to the amazing backstage crew, and our equally amazing tech team, as well as our epic prop maker and epic costume lady, and not forgetting our cast, everyone has an important role to play. There’s no I in team, and everything Wads does is a team effort.
Dani
The Little Mermaid is on at Wincanton memorial Hall on Friday 17th of February at 7.30 pm and Saturday 18th of February at 2pm and 7.30 pm.
We look forward to seeing you there. It really is a show not to be missed.
4th March 2022
That's all folks
Well what a weekend we have had last weekend. Starting Friday night with our first performance of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood a panto by Ben Crocker and directed by Sarah Adams and Co-directed by Jayne Bentley.
After nearly 6 months of rehearsals and trying to keep everyone safe and avoid the coronavirus, the first show was up on us and it was time to put all of our hard work to the test.
7.30pm on Friday the 25th Feb. The lights went up and the music began with the sight of our chorus members Dani, Clare, Alana, Yosef, Poppy, Owen along with the two rabbits payed by Hope and Grace lit up the stage.
It wasn't long before they were joined by James playing the part of Alan-A-Dale as he began to sing to the music of 'I've got a feeling' a great feel good start to our local panto.
After being asked to sing another song by the two rabbits Alan went into a rendition of 'Wake up' by the Boo Radleys. As the chorus kicked in the cast members, already on stage, were joined by Robin Hood played by Amanda Graffham, Little Joan played by Charlie Bentley and Friar Tuck played by Paul Adams.
The audience listened intently as the cast spoke to each other and the audience before throwing sweets into the crowd as they spoke the words 'steal from the rich and give to the poor’
It wasn't long before Maggie Benson playing Much ran on stage infoming them all of a young man coming through the forest and as they all hid, apart from Tuck, the leading lady, Maid Marion played by Cara Bentley entered the stage disguised as a man and was confronted by the outlaws.
After beating all of the merry men, apart from Robin himself, they all realised that the young man wasn't what he seemed and discovered it was Marion. She joined them as they all exited the stage.
Moments later the familiar sound of Mike Benson could be heard. Playing the dame many times in the past, this year was no different as he entered the stage as Winnie Widebottom in one of the costume director's Jenny Kingston's amazing over the top dame outfits.
Mike was doing what he does best, engaging the audience and singing and dancing across the whole stage.
The next scene saw our baddie for the first time played by Hazel Perret, the Sheriff of Nottingham along with his sidekick Dennis played by Dawn Henson.
Hazel played the part of a typical baddie reacting to the audiences boos and hisses and even shouting at the stage crew when something fell down accidently. As for her side kick Dennis, he would cower away from his master and whimpered and cried when being called names.
The last two Characters were the Babes themselves Tilly and Tommy. These were played by Layla and William. As younger members of the group they played their parts well as the playful niece and nephew of the sheriff.
All in all this panto had everything that you need in a pantomime. From a wide selection of song and dance. Comedy sections and even a dame on a spinning wheel target.
The wheel target which was a bit of a logistical nightmare was well worth the finished effect and was excellently made by Mike who also painted the fantastic back wall, curtains and flats.
The backstage crew worked tirelessly behind the scenes moving the flats and props between scenes. The crew which consisted of Gina Pike as stage manager along with Emily and Elle Chubb and Clare Barker seemlessly set the scenes in quick time making the show move fluidly without long pauses.
Working with the tech crew lead by Brian Sales that looked down from the tech room way up in the heavens at the back of the hall they new when the stage was ready and when the next piece of music needed to start and lights to go up. Backed up by Luke Read, Siobhan Domoney and Raymond Lovell who also made a selection of props.
All in all the panto was a great success! The audience, over the 3 performances, seemed to enjoy joining in with the songs and booing when the baddie would appear.
All the cast and crew enjoyed performing it and after such a long wait and after spending so many Sunday afternoons rehearsing it all was well worth the wait but as always seemed to be over far too soon.
Well, all that’s left to be said until next time is, we hope those of you who were able to come and see it enjoyed it and we look forward to our next show.
Paul & Gina