pantomime
To the unfamiliar, the theatre is not merely a place, it is another land with its own language, its customs and a vibrant beating heart. When you move there, to this place with its vivid colours, the rest of the world fades into shadow; friendships burn bright and romance blossoms. Even I, always a little slow to warm, found myself wondering after just a week: Could this last forever?
They know, in their hearts, the real people of Pantoland, the bittersweet truth that it can't, it won't last. They have travelled this road before. The outside world waits patiently; without it, this place of wonder wouldn't exist.
But I am new here, and the spell has taken hold. In the depths of my heart, I dare to hope—what if we hold on? What if we believe with every fibre of our being? Perhaps this time, it will last...
These were my six weeks in Pantoland.
Most images were shot during the rehearsal and production of Beauty & The Beast at The Woodville Theatre, Gravesend, in November and December 2019. Some shots are from the ‘get-in’ for Aladdin at the same theatre in 2022.
A huge thank you to the cast and crew for their patience, energy and good humour.
Special thanks to Mandy Ware of The Woodville and Tom Swift of Wicked Productions for opening the doors to this extraordinary world.
