It's Panto Time... oh no it isn't, oh yes it is...

It's Panto Time... oh no it isn't, oh yes it is... (you get the idea!)

This year has flown by and once again we find ourselves at the time of year that has us falling around in stitches because it is panto time!

This year there is a great selection of amateur pantomimes to choose from, so here they all are in one place for you to check out!

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Peta Pam by The Darlings at The Karamel Theatre

Wendy Darling is young and full of life. She has been brought up on the stories of Peta Pam, told to her by her sweet-natured Mummy Darling.

 
So when Wendy meets Peta and Tink, she longs for them to take her to their fantastic island called Well I Never Land.

There are mermaids and pirates and singing crocodiles not to mention the glorious Tiger Lily and the dastardly Captain Hook.

Wendy is keen to explore and to experience a world that sounds like a fairy tale. And to understand her mother's secret.

However, Peta Pam and her dear friend Tink are beginning to feel their age and an adventure with Wendy Darling is the last thing on their minds. It's no fun fighting pirates and sleeping in a tree trunk with the Lost Lesbians when you have a clicky hip.

But why does Peta Pam fly to Wendy's window each night? Has Tink mellowed with age?

And will the Lost Lesbians ever be brave enough to defeat the Pirates and their own fear? Who knows?

To find out - book your tickets NOW. Six performances only of 2012's not-to-be-missed Christmas pantomime presented by the unforgettable, irresistible amateur theatre troupe - the
Darlings.

When they sold out last year with Miss Whittington & Her Cat, everyone wanted to see more and so Peta Pam comes to add that special bit of Christmas spice to your festive season. Check
your diaries, ring your friends and book your tickets before they all disappear!

DATES: 6, 7 & 8 December & 13, 14 & 15 December
TIME: Show 8pmPRICE: Tickets £8 in advance (£10 on the door)
LOCATION: Karamel, Chocolate Factory 2, 4 Coburg Road, Wood Green N22 6UJ

Book your tickets

Dinner available from 6.30pm - to book a table please call Karamel on 020 8829 8989 and visit karamelclub.co.uk for the menu.

Read our review of The Darlings 2011 pantomime, Miss Whittington & Her Cat to get an idea of what to expect

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The Comatose Beauty @ The RVT

A festive look on taking  a nap for 100 years in Vauxhall town in disco style with Mzz Kimberley as the innocent beauty, Myra Dubois as the really angry evil witch, Holestar as the singing good drag fairy, Alp Haydar as Prince Charming, Sharia Law as Beauty’s mother and Lorraine Bowen as the good yet slightly eccentric mayor of Vauxhall.

 

DATES: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 27 & 28 December

TIME: Doors 7pm, Show 8.30pm

PRICE: Tickets £10
LOCATION: The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY 

Book your tickets

Meal and show tickets with reserved seating £25 check RVT website for details.

The RVT ran a preview night, check out our review here (no spoilers)

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Sinderella... What a Slut! @ The 2 Brewers

The Drama Queens are known for their unique shows so you can expect more of the same 'twisted comic style ' in this panto of the classic Cinderella story.

Under the direction of the incredible Spike Rhodes this production boasts a line up of the drag cabaret circuit's top performers.

Rose Garden will be playing Sinderella Slut, a big hearted sexy scrubber who's always horny, alongside Titti La Camp as ugly sister Lady Viagra Hard-On and Cosmo-Tina as the 'prettier' Ugly sister Lady Vagina Hard-On.

Always handy when needed, fairy godmother, Annie Dildo will be played by 2011's Drag Idol finalist Morag McDuff. The amazing Mitzi Macintosh, fresh from Sydney and finalist at this years Drag Idol, will be thrilling us with her performance as evil stepmother, Baroness Bitch Hard-On.

Bring the 'Woof' factor to the show are Matthew Delaney as Prince Richard Charming, Steel as Dandini, Angel Rubio as Buttons these guys. With Flirty Bertie, the unique Drama Queens drag king.

Please note folks this is not a show suited to anyone under 18 or who is likely to be offended by a gay themes, adult humour and very crude language.

DATES: 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 December & 8, 9, 10 January

TIME: Doors 7pm, Show 8pm

PRICE: Tickets £15
LOCATION: The 2 Brewers, 114 Clapham High Street, Clapham, SW4 7UJ

Buy tickets to Sinderella

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Snow White and the Seven Poofs The Climax!!!

Snow White and her Seven Poofs are back for one final dose of the hilarious Alternative Pantomime with a brand new cast, brand new songs, and a brand new venue.

Following last year’s sell out run and 2010 at Leicester Square Theatre, Snow White and her Seven Poofs are back for another Christmas of rude flirty fun and frolics. This pop-powered drag panto is suitable for adults only and stars 2008 Drag Idol winner Tanya Hyde, who is returning to her role of Snow White for the third year, the hilarious Mrs. Moore as the Queen, Simon Gross returning to his role as Horrible Hilda. This bigger, bolder, ruder fairytale is packed with audience participation and feel good party anthems ‘Get The Party Started’, You’re the One That I Want, ‘YMCA’, ‘It’s a Sin’, ‘Hot Stuff’, and Rhianna’s ‘S&M’.

Tanya Hyde, recreating her role of Snow White, has a weekly residency at Trannys and has won Drag Idol 2009. Tanya’s TV includes Lynda La Plant’s Above Suspicion for ITV1, Louie Spence's Showbusiness (Sky1), The Morganna Show (Channel 4), The Ali G Show (Channel 4), Dream Team (Sky 1) & Ballroom High (Sky 1). This year, she won ‘Best Cabaret Newcomer’ at the 2011 BOYZ Scene Awards.

Mrs Moore was asked to join The Dolly Mixtures cabaret group in 2001, performing all over London before forming duo M&M with Mille Turner in 2003, highlights of which include performing in Hyde Park as part of Gay Pride. In 2007 Mrs Moore launched her own solo career with MMTV (Mrs More Transvision), and more recently MMTV (Mrs Moore the Voice... of a Thousand Fags). In addition, Mrs Moore joined the award winning theatre troupe The Drama Queens, where her roles included Mrs Lovett, Judy Garland and Marlene Dietreich.

Simon Gross has been producer for SG Productions for last ten years. As a producer Simon’s theatre work includes Sinderfella for Above the Stag Theatre Victoria in 2008 and then for the Leicester Square Theatre in 2009, and Snow White and the Seven Poofs, again for the Leicester Square Theatre in 2010. Simon is also director of SG Productions, which prides it on taking quality theatre into the community. His many television credits include: On the Road with Maureen Rees and Noel’s House Party for the BBC, Channel 4’s What the Butler Saw, Louie Spence’s Show Business and Trinny And Susannah Uncovered. Simon was last seen on the Vanessa Show for Channel Five weekdays as a regular Sofa Surfer.

For more information see www.sgproductions.co.uk or Simon’s website www.simongross.co.uk.

WARNING: Please note this is an ADULTS ONLY pantomime and definitely not suitable for children, the faint-hearted and persons of a prudish nature.

DATES: 4 December to 6 January
TIME: 7.30pm Mon-Sat, 4pm Sat and Sun 2.30pm & 5.30pm
PRICE: £15 in advance, £18.50 on door
LOCATION: Green Carnation, 4-5 Greek St, London, W1D 4DD

Buy tickets to Snow White and the Seven Poofs

Funny Money - Tickled Pink & Laughing Cows - comedy events raising money for charity

Tickled Pink

I set up Tickled Pink to work along the same lines as Laughing Cows - good comics, good value for money with a friendly atmosphere.  This time though the line up will include some funny men too!  It’s a gay/straight-friendly comedy night.  In other words it will be free of any misogynistic/homophobic/racist jokes and is open to anyone who fancies a good laugh in a club with a warm and welcoming vibe.   

As with Laughing Cows, I also want to use the nights to raise money and awareness for a charity and decided upon Stonewall.  It seemed a perfect fit for the night.  Stonewall is a professional lobbying group working on behalf of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Since its creation in 1989, Stonewall has put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties.  In September I’d gigged for Stonewall at a charity night organised by Laughing Cows stalwart, Jen Brister, and was impressed by their current campaign to stamp out homophobic bullying. 

Tickled Pink will run the third Sunday of every month Upstairs at the Retro Bar, 2 George Court, London, WC2N 6HH. Doors open at 19:30 with the show starting at 20:00.  Tickets £8/£6.  

Laughing Cows

Laughing Cows comedy nights aim to showcase and champion women in comedy.  Originally set up in 1998 by founder Hazel O’Keefe after a London comedy promoter inadvertently threw down the proverbial gauntlet. "We were discussing female comics and I asked why there's never more than one female comedian on the bill and he said, oh we wouldn't take that risk," she explains. O'Keefe proved to have more balls than he did and her 'risk' has been running ever since. 

Every show is designed to get the audience laughing from start to finish, by showcasing the best of female comedy, in a friendly and warm atmosphere.  Acts who have performed at Laughing Cows include Sarah Millican, Shazia Mirza, Gina Yashere, Susan Calman, Hattie Hayridge, Zoe Lyons and Jo Enright.

Laughing Cows also runs Laughing Calves nights throughout the year. These nights allow newer comics to take to the stage alongside more seasoned performers.  Laughing Cows currently runs nights in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Preston, Glossop, Chorlton, Stockport and Berlin.  

The nights also raise money for charity.  In London, Laughing Cows has raised over £15,000 for the Helen Bamber Foundation.  In May 2010 and 2012 Laughing Cows London organized a benefit night for the Foundation in association with the actor, Emma Thompson.  The nights have featured comics such as Jo Brand, Jenny Éclair, Shazia Mirza, Hattie Hayridge, Lucy Porter, Adams & Rea, Mrs Barbara Nice, Shelagh Martin, Angie McEvoy, Jade the Folk Singer and hosting the evenings, Laughing Cows Resident MC, Maureen Younger. 

Laughing Cows runs the first Thursday of every month Upstairs at the Retro Bar, 2 George Court, London, WC2N 6HH. Doors open at 19:30 with the show starting at 20:00.  Tickets £8/£6.  

By Maureen Younger