A pair of pantos – oh yes they are!
The cheesy lines are being perfected as script read- throughs give way to rehearsals and dress rehearsals.
This is panto time and some performances are already selling out.
Jack and the Beanstalk takes over Ayr
Gaiety with his giant vine.
And the glass slipper is out at the Kilmarnock Palace for Cinderella.
Expect plenty of area specific gags in both towns.
The main cast of Jack and the Beanstalk dropped in for afternoon tea at South Corton Farm, visiting their headline sponsors ‘ The Coo Shed’.
Meeting customers, tasting the homemade treats and sampling the fresh farm milk, the cast experienced the real- life version of the dairy that’s a classic set in the iconic pantomime story. Curtain up in Ayr is Friday November 29. And a dozen miles north at Kilmarnock, Cinderella, her ugly sisters and her Prince Charming kick off on the traditional press night, already sold out, this Saturday November 23.
The Gaiety cast, made up of Chris Forbes [ Scot Squad], Karen Bartke [ Scot Squad], Gavin John Wright [ River City], Kirsty Malone [ Sunshine On Leith], David McGowan [ Trust Me] and Jillian
Cunningham [ The Bee Eaters], arrived in colourful costume and in full character.
The Gaiety panto marks a new venture for the charity- run theatre, as this is their first in- house production since re- opening in 2012. They have assembled a fantastic creative team and cast, creating a uniquely Ayrshire story.
Jack and the Beanstalk runs all the way to January 5.
Tickets can be purchased from The Gaiety Box Office 01292 288235 or www. thegaiety. co. uk.
The cost from £ 22 in the stalls to £ 14 high up and a family ticket is £ 72.
At Kilmarnock, Still Game actress Lynne McCallum, pictured above, is Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.
Lynne is a familiar face across Scotland from her appearances as Peggy in Still Game.
Asked if she’d appeared at the Palace Theatre before, Lynne said: “No, it’s my first time and I’m very very excited about it.
“I’ve appeared in one panto which was Aladdin at Buckhaven Theatre.
“I started off playing the Empress but ended up playing Widow Twankey when the dame became ill. I’ve also appeared in one Christmas show, Jack and the Land of Dreams for a workshop.”
You can see Lynne making wishes come true until Sunday December 29.
Kilmarnock’s favourite dame Fraser Boyle returns as an Ugly Sister alongside the hilarious Gary Morrison as Buttons,.
And local Jennifer Hart will also be achieving her dream of performing the title role of Cinderella.
Jennifer said: “I went to the Kilmarnock panto every single year as a child with my school.
“I absolutely loved going and it was one of my goals to perform in one.
“My grandmother was a well- known Scottish singer and performed as the fairy godmother in pantomimes across Scotland so that was a big push for me too.”
Clare Wilson of East Ayrshire Leisure said: “We promise a show of side- splitting slapstick comedy, spectacular scenery, breath- taking costumes, stunning special effects and fabulous song and dance routines.”
Tickets are priced at £ 18.50, to book tickets call The Palace Theatre box office on 01563 554900 or visit www.eastayrshireleisure.com