And, so it begins. With panto season just around the corner – and quite literally too with the Epsom Playhouse situated right on the curve of Ashley Avenue – this winter, expect another festive season of fairytale scenery, lavish costumes and, well, a lot of Dick – Whittington, of course! Did you know it’s been nearly a decade since DW has shown at the Playhouse.
1. DICK ‘N’ DAME
Presenting the cast of Dick Whittington this year…
| DICK | BEN DAVIES |
| SARAH THE COOK | DAVID RUMELLE |
| IDLE JACK | LUKE DREWELL |
| ALICE FITZWARREN | CHARLOTTE STEEN |
| ALDERMAN | PROFESSOR TIM WILSON |
| CAPTAIN | JAMIE BANNERMAN |
| KING RAT | NEIL PATTERSON |
| MATE | CRAIG RANFORD |
| TOMMY THE CAT | AMI WHITAKER |
| FAIRY BOW BELLS | SAM GIFFARD |
2. THE ONLY WAY IS EPSOM
Traditional panto rules require the stage setting to be a romanticised version of the local community, celebrated in song by a chorus of townspeople. (Translated, that last bit means full audience participation with the singing, or else!)
3. SELLING FAST
Tickets are now on sale from £15.50 including a relaxed performance on the 3rd January 2023 where slight changes are made to lighting, movement and sound.
4. SHOW DATES
Dick Whittington runs from 15th December 2022 to 8th January 2023.
5. HISTORY OF PANTO
Classic British panto owes much to the Victorians, who popularized the kind of shows that we know and love today but pantomimes roots go right back to the 16th century and ‘Commedia dell’Arte’ – an Italian art-form which used dance, music, tumbling and acrobatics.
6. DON’T SPEAK
Early pantomimes – which were based on classical stories – were all set to music but without any dialogue!
7. ON STAGE Did you know… the villain must enter from stage-left and the hero from stage-right.
8. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
A most anticipated part of panto is the ‘transformation’ scene. This is the moment where magical special effects, twinkly lights, disappearing characters, clouds of smoke and show stopping costumes bring everything to life.
9. ALL CHANGE
Talking of costumes, expect at least 12 bespoke and fantastical costume changes from this year’s panto dame, ‘Sarah the Cook’. With 45 shows – that’s A LOT of changes!
10. SLOP SCENES
Every panto has them, they’re the super messy part of the show where literally ANYTHING can happen! And it usually does!
Dick Whittington tickets available here