Free panto tickets: it's a festive giveaway at Terrington St Clement

Panto tickets at Terrington St Clement will be free this year – oh yes they will! – thanks to a generous burst of Christmas cheer from the organisers.

It means that the village will now have two festive freebies – the Christmas tree lights celebrations later this month and now the pantomime in December.

Terrington Community Fund is behind the events and its chairman, Mark Wilson, who is also in the panto cast, explained that they had started off by selling panto tickets as usual.

“Then we had a re-think,” he said. “We appreciate that people are having it a bit tough this year and having to tighten their belts.

So for them, and to celebrate the panto returning after Covid lockdown, we have decided there will be no charge this time.

It all boils down to giving everyone a chance to enjoy Christmas in spite of everything that is going on. You could say it’s our present to the village.

He added that generous sponsorship from MKM Building Supplies helped to make it possible as well as the village hall committee kindly giving the hall for free for the show and Jim Ropa supplying sound equipment without charge. And the Community Fund is also contributing.

“Thanks to all of these people we can make it a free show this year,” said Mark.

“Anyone who has already bought a ticket will be offered a refund – though tickets still have to be booked in advance.

This year’s panto is The Sword in the Stone and it will be staged at 7pm on Thursday and Friday December 1 and 2 and at 2pm and 7pm on Saturday, December 3.

The pantomime’s co-writer Emily Price said the cast was getting excited about the show. “They are mostly locals and some have been involved since the first panto was staged back in 2008,” she said.

In the lead roles, Mary Bush will be playing Arthur and Hermione Hammond will play Princess Guinevere with Mark Wilson as Abbie Cadabra. Lots of fun and laughs are guaranteed.

But first the village can enjoy the switching on of the Christmas tree lights outside the village pavilion and recreation field on Friday, November 25 at 6pm. There will be festive treats, special guests and Santa has promised to be there.

n Panto tickets need to be booked in advance by calling Lesley on 01553 829161.