Oh yes, it is!

Christmas is approaching fast – and that means panto season is here too! This year, Titchfield Festival Theatre’s original pantomime is Hansel & Gretel - and this year it has an extended run. Hansel & Gretel will perform on stage from Friday 13 December all the way through to New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 31 December.

See the classic fairy tale like you’ve never seen it before, reimagined with a twist or two in a brand-new adaptation by director Sassy Harvey and the same team that brought you The Nutcracker, Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty.

Sassy Harvey was interviewed by Simon Frost:

Simon: Sassy, tell me - why do you love the panto season so much? 

Sassy: Panto season is by far my favourite time of year. It is so joyful, Christmassy and brings the entire family together. Nothing beats bringing together the pantomime formats of ‘it’s behind you’ and ‘oh no there isn’t’ moments to life with the big characters that we all know and love within pantomime.

Simon: What inspired you to choose "Hansel & Gretel" as the theme for this year's panto?

Sassy: TFT always performs original pantomimes – and this year is no different! I decided that I would write my own version of this well-loved and recognised fairytale. It has all the ingredients needed for a pantomime: the wicked witch, the magical gingerbread house, our wonderful children who must try and defeat the witch. Mix them all in with my own twists to the tale, reviving Sugar Plum Fairy and our beloved Quality Sweets and introducing our new comedy duo Gingerbread men - it really is a wonderfully magical adventure that this story takes you through.

Simon: All of TFT's pantos are original. Tell me why this production will be "a classic fairy tale like you’ve never seen it before.”

Sassy: Oooo… that would be giving it all away. With the wicked witch casting a spell over some of our favourite characters, we see the rise of some new heroes to our story. Our story focuses on how the entire village led by Dame Chelsea Bun work together to rise up and defeat the wicked witch.

Simon: Can you tell us a bit about the new characters or plot twists that audiences can expect?

Sassy: This year we have the fabulous Daniel McCready as our Dame Chelsea Bun, bringing a new energy to the show that will excite audiences who come back to us year on year. Let’s not forget our beloved heroes; Double Decker (bus driver), Bounty (Bounty hunter), Wispa (Librarian), our Twix's (Builders), Milkyway (Milkmaid) and Crunchie (PT instructor) all bring our village to life and add some wonderful characters to our story. This really helps our fantastic child performers playing Hansel and Gretel to navigate through the story with the support of the adult cast.

Simon: What can you share about the music, costumes, and set design for this year's panto?

Sassy: It will be filled with toe tapping, well-known songs that all ages can enjoy from 'Reach for the Stars' to 'Sparkle and Shine' to 'Wish it could be Christmas' - you'll find the entire family singing along and smiling all the way through as they watch our Titchfield Festival youth theatre bring all these numbers to life with extra sparkle.

Simon: Why should people of all ages come along and watch?

Sassy: Pantomime is the one show each year that really does bring all ages together. It is a true family adventure with so much laughter and booing and cheering; it creates the unforgettable moments on the stage that make theatre that magical place to visit. Plus, we are affordable; Pantomime and theatre doesn't have to break the balance, and we pride ourselves on being accessible to all, with tickets starting at Just £8! So why wouldn't you want to join us this Christmas?

Simon: … and this year TFT’s panto has an extended run? Tell us more.

Sassy: This year we decided to continue the magic over the Christmas holiday to New Years Eve. With so many of our wonderful youth performers taking part each year, this allowed us the ability to include all 430 students! That’s right! It is incredible to be able to share what we do with our community and by extending the run; it means we have more performances and opportunities to show off our brilliant show.

Thank you, Sassy!

Hansel and Gretel performs in the Arden Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre between 13 to 31 December 2024. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/  or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.