The Panto season is here again.

What is it about Panto that brings a smile to the face? As someone who has worked in the theatre professionally at the National Theatre and in Rep across the country there is no better time than the Christmas season. So the show on BBC Four last night Storyville: 2014-2015 Panto! Mayhem, Make Up and Magic was a joy to behold. As someone in the cast says 'its the Fawlty Towers of theatre'. They were doing Puss in Boots and clearly enjoying the whole business. It took us from auditions and selection of actors to the big night. The Panto took place at the small but comfortable 300 seat Nottingham Arts Theatre. They receive no public subsidy and its to their credit that such a panto can be produced of such quality - obviously on a shoe string. Nevertheless despite this they made a profit from this super production. I think we in Britain are the only county that do Panto. There is a rich seam of latent talent in this county. This is demonstrated by the very popular show like Strictly Come Dancing. We it appears love dressing up - men being women and women being men. This is all part of our history of theatre with many of Shakespeare's plays being of the confusion between the sexes. Here is Sevenoaks at The Stag Theatre we have the Cinderella its selling out so book now. The reveiws have been very positive. Enjoy your Christmas and a bonny New Year.