Tag: cuadc

Christmas in Cambridge: Pantomine and Ballet

I love Christmas.  One of my fondest childhood memories is going to the pantomime each year with my cousins.  It was always my granny’s treat and it was so exciting, putting on my best dress and heading out to the theatre.  The festive season is just around the corner now so if your thoughts are turning to booking a Christmas show, here’s a run-down of what’s going on in the city this year.

Red Riding Hood ADC Theatre Cambridge
Image credit: CUADC/Footlights

27 Nov – 7 December    Red Riding Hood.  The annual CUADC/Footlights panto at the ADC Theatre  http://www.adctheatre.com

What they say: “Join Red and her friends on an epic adventure of self discovery, brought to life by Cambridge’s finest comedic and musical talent.”

What we say:  This panto is always very funny indeed with a talented cast and orchestra who give it their all every year.  Book quickly as tickets are already getting scarce.

28th Nov – 11 Jan    Cinderella.  Cambridge Arts Theatre  http://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

British Sign Language interpreted performance 1pm  1 December

Relaxed performance 11am 14 December

Audio described performance 1pm 11 Jan

What they say: “This timeless tale is packed with sing-along songs, sensational costumes and hilarious jokes.”

What we say:  A classic, glittery panto starring ballet dancer Wayne Sleep and Liza Goddard.  Perfect for all the family.

The Wind in the Willows Cambridge Junction
Image credit: Cambridge Junction

11 Dec – 5 Jan    The Wind in the Willows.  Cambridge Junction  http://www.junction.co.uk

British Sign Language interpreted performance 2.30pm 22 December

Relaxed performance 11am 29 December

What they say:  “An all singing, all dancing, anarchic extravaganza … perfect for anyone who loves, hates or feels ambivalent about Christmas.”

What we say:  This is a family Christmas show from Figs in Wigs, a female led performance company who promise puns, bad jokes and pop culture references.  We loved last year’s show from NIE, Snow White, and we’re looking forward to this.

BALLET CENTRAL _NUCRACKER,Stratford Circus Arts Centre
Image credit: Ballet Central/Bill Cooper

17 – 19 December  The Nutcracker.  Ballet Central.  ADC Theatre  http://www.adctheatre.com

What they say:  “Ballet Central will showcase their dazzling 45 minute version of the time-honoured Nutcracker, introducing children of all ages to a new version of the iconic Tchaikovsky score.”

What we say:  A shortened version of The Nutcracker is a perfect way to introduce children to ballet.  These final year students from the Central School of Ballet are on the cusp of their professional careers and dance their hearts out in a really magical performance.  The costumes, the music …. we were captivated by this last year.  Book quickly as there aren’t many tickets left.

29 Dec – 4 Jan    A Tchaikovsky Trilogy of The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.  Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet.  Cambridge Corn Exchange  http://www.cambridgelive.org.uk

What they say:  “This acclaimed company combines classical training and technique with outstanding soloists to entertain audiences in breath-taking style.”

What we say:  We didn’t catch this in Cambridge last Christmas but we have seen St Petersburg Classic Ballet perform elsewhere and they are excellent.  A full length ballet to enjoy without going all the way to London!

 

 

 

Pantomime at the ADC Theatre

It’s big, it’s bold, it’s bright, it’s back!!  Yes, it’s that time of year when the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club and the famous Cambridge Footlights bring us dancing, singing, slapstick and more in their annual pantomime.  This year, they’re transporting us to Paris to tell the tale of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Panto poster
Image credit and poster design: Al Ro

I look forward to this show each year and I’m always struck by the high production values, the professionalism and the talent of the cast so I met with Nick Harrison and Charlotte Stephenson, the producers of this year’s panto, to find out more about how the show is put together.  They tell me that the process started back in May when they were appointed.  Their first job was to choose a Director and together they formed a panel to interview writers.  From a variety of applications, they selected Zak Ghazi-Torbati and Sam Knights, who impressed with the way they proposed to bring this sometimes dark story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame to life.  With a production team, composer and lyricist recruited by the end of the Easter term, the script was written over the summer break.

Bells of Notre Dame
The bells of Notre Dame under construction  Image Credit: Charlotte Stephenson

Cast auditions were held at the beginning of October and crew members to run the show were also appointed.  Rehearsals started in mid-October so now, with preparations for the panto going full steam ahead, Nick and Charlotte are keeping a firm hand on the tiller, ensuring that all areas of the production are in synch, on time and on budget.  With a cast and crew of over sixty people, that’s a lot to manage before the lights go up on opening night but Nick and Charlotte love what they do, speaking warmly of the camaraderie and commitment of everyone involved in this production.

The pantomime runs from 22 November to 2 December and tickets are snapped up so I advise booking as soon as you can.  If you miss the boat, a very small number of seats are released for every performance on the day but you need to call in person at the Box Office to have a chance of getting tickets this way.

Panto cast photo
Image credit: Amelia Oakley

So go on, get ready to cheer the goodies, boo the baddies and marvel at the mayhem …. you know you want to!!

http://www.adctheatre.com

Park Street, Cambridge CB5 8AS