For the first time in 44 years, there’ll be no panto in Brightlingsea as the pandemic has forced the town’s Panto Group to cancel its 2021 production.
The show would have run in the last week of January at Brightlingsea Community Centre, but the current restrictions on group meetings and uncertainty over future constraints on audiences have led the group to make what it says is the “very tough decision” to call it off.
“With the abundance of people involved in our group we don’t know when we will be able to access rehearsal space or if a large group such as ours will be permitted to congregate together anytime soon,” said a group statement. “Normally by now we would have had our AGM, chosen a producer and the designs for scenery and costumes would be well under way.”
The group was originally formed by members of the junior school PTA and has gone on to become widely recognised as one of the best local pantos in the region. Shows can involve up to 90 cast and crew members of all ages.
Should restriction be lifted, the group is hoping to put on a smaller show on January 29 & 30 as a fundraiser for the Community Centre.
For further information on the group, see its website or Facebook page
