To the William Loveless Hall! [where else?] …on Tuesday evening for the dress rehearsal of the 2012 Wivenhoe Pantomime. I say dress rehearsal, but I’m not entirely sure who was wearing the finest costumes - the actors on stage or the extremely elegant (and playful) more mature members of our community who came along to add a critical eye to Robin Hood.

The actors on the stage needn’t had worried. The show was paced perfectly and the humour level was pitched just right. The oldies but goodies (jokes, not audience members) may have been heard in many different forms over the years, but they still hit the right spot. “Chesty assets” indeed…

And so not wanting to put in too many spoilers here, what can the Panto Heads of Wivenhoe expect for the world opening run that starts at the Loveless Hall on Wednesday evening? Well… an ace hyperlocal script from Hazel Humpphreys, that has been built upon by a cast covering primary school kids to yet more oldies but goodies, and not forgetting the fine musicianship and overall professional production. Oh, and a pantomime dame that is as grotesque as s/he is lovable.

It is occasions such as the Panto that the Loveless Hall seems just right for Wivenhoe. Sure there are gripes that the size of the venue can’t attract the big names on the rock circuit (um, hang on…) but as a bread ‘n’ butter village hall, the panto crowd do a rather convincing job of transforming it into a fringe theatre venue.

The run of shows spans Wednesday through until Saturday evening, including a Saturday afternoon matinee. A few tickets may still be available if you are quick off the mark and hunt them down. The Post Office at the foot of the High Street, or the Crossways Store up towards the top should be your first port of call.

Wear skin tight back leather if you want to side with the ghastly Guy of Gisbourne, green tights if you want to slap your thigh in a not at all slightly confused cross dressing state of sexual consciousness with the rather dashing Robin.

S/he’s behind you?

Blimey.

Full flickr feed over here.