Pantomime time (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Pantomime time

2:08pm Wednesday 11th November 2009

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NORTH Hampshire families have a great choice of who to boo and cheer from a range of shows being staged in the area this Christmas.

On the doorstep, The Anvil’s 2009 Christmas panto is Cinderella, starring CITV Toonattik presenters Anna Williamson and Jamie Rickers in the principal roles as Cinderella and Buttons, and singing star Sonia as the Fairy Godmother. The show starts on December 10 and runs until January 3.

For a quieter Christmas show, Basingstoke’s Haymarket theatre is putting on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, from December 4 until January 2.

Tickets for both shows – which are being sponsored by Gazette Newspapers – can be booked through the Anvil Arts box office, on 01256 844244, or online at anvilarts.org.uk.

In Newbury, young theatre-goers can catch Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, pictured, at The Watermill theatre – from November 26 until January 3 – which has been given a musical comedy treatment by director Anna Linstrum and composer Simon Slater. Tickets are available by calling 01635 46044, or at watermill.org.uk.

Newbury’s Corn Exchange theatre will be staging a new version of Puss in Boots starting on December 4 and finishing on January 3, and tickets can be bought from the box office, on 01635 522733, or online at ticketscornexchangenew.com/public.

Pumpkin carriages and glass slippers seem to be the trend this winter, as the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, in Guildford, Woking’s New Victoria Theatre and The Hexagon, in Reading, which are also putting on productions of Cinderella.

The Guildford venue has brought in former Blue Peter presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones to play Prince Charming from December 4 until January 10. Tickets can be booked from the box office, on 01483 440000, or online at yvonne-arnaud.co.uk.

In Reading, the magical fairy tale is being brought to life by EastEnders’ Roland Bell as Buttons, Emmerdale’s Sally Oliver as Dandini and Laura Jeffrey as Cinderella. The show starts on December 5 and run until January 3, and tickets are available by calling 01189 390059 or online at readingarts.com Finally, the New Victoria Theatre’s version of the popular tale includes Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey, Love Actually) as Cinderella and Jon Lee (S Club 7, Les Misérables) and is on from December 4 until January 10. The box office number is 0844 8717645, or ambassadortickets.com/woking.

Santa himself will be making an appearance at Southampton’s Mayflower theatre, in Santa Claus and the Return of Jack Frost – starring Roy Barraclough and Stephen Mulhern – running from December 11 until January 16, with tickets available by calling 02380 711811, or online at mayflower.org.uk.

Closer to home the Theatre Royal Winchester is taking audiences to a magical land in The Wizard Oz – the pantomime from December 9. The show is running until January 3 and more information and tickets are available by calling 01962 840440, or going to theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk.

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