& CULTURE Loads of panto I
ANTA’S elves are appealing to the children of Huddersfield to come and help out at their temporary workshop in the lead up to Christmas.
The elves have set up a teddy bear making factory at Cannon Hall Farm, at Cawthorne, where little helpers can learn how to make their own bear and take it home with them.
Farm director Richard Nicholson said: “Our Elves Workshop event has had five star reviews for the last few years but last year we sold it out so quickly we were having to disappoint people and tell them we could not fit them in.
“So this year, we decided to do something completely different and relaunch it with a new concept, lots more space and the all important elf school.
“We realised if we wanted to stand out, we had to really go for it and so that’s what we’ve done.”
Children are first led in to a school room where elves from entertainment company, Barnsley company Copycat Party Company, will demonstrate how teddy bears are made.
From there it’s to the magical workshop where children can choose what kind of teddy they want to make and start creating their take-home bear under the elves’ supervision.
The whole workshop lasts about half an hour.
Richard added: “We’ve always been known for our magical Christmas stunts - at our Christmas meal events, Santa even comes down the chimney - but this was a whole new challenge.”
Cannon Hall Farm’s Elf Workshop experience is running every weekend in December before Christmas.
You can book online at www.cannonhallfarm. co.uk.
It is priced at £19.95 per child - which includes all day farm admission. Adults pay £6.95 for the farm admission fee.
There is an option to add a visit to Santa in the grotto for an additional fee of £8 per child and this must also be booked in advance. T’S pantomime season! Oh no it isn’t. No, seriously, oh yes it is. In Huddersfield and all across West Yorkshire family-friendly pantomimes are gearing up for that familiar cry. There are plenty of classic tales being performed by professional and amateur theatre groups in December and January.
has a guide for what’s on where and how you can book. Lawrence Batley Theatre’s Christmas pantomime this year is Aladdin. It has been produced by the same team that performed the extremely well received Jack and the Beanstalk last year. Director Joyce Branagh said: “We’ve really listened to how our audiences have reacted to our pantos and we’ve tailored everything with them in mind from costumes, to song choices and spectacular effects including a magic flying carpet.”
Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP
December 7 to January 6 - every day apart from Sunday, Christmas Day and New Years’ Day
For the best seats in the house, adult tickets cost £18.50 and children’s cost £16.50.
You can book online at www.thelbt.org/ shows/aladdin or over the phone from the box office on 01484 430528.