COULD CURTAIN FALL ON PANTO?

MARLOWE BOSSES CONSIDER AXING 2020 PRODUCTION

The future of this year’s Christmas panto hangs in the balance with a crunch decision expected next month on whether to press ahead with the show. Producers of what is the Marlowe Theatre’s biggest money-spinner say they are weighing up the financial risks of staging the popular production in the wake of continuing restrictions caused by the Covid19 pandemic.

Going ahead with the panto - which attracts up to 100,000 people throughout its run could leave the theatre and firm behind it massively out of pocket should another wave of the virus spark a second lockdown.

But cancelling it could be catastrophic for the Marlowe, which has already lost £2 million of income after being forced to axe dozens of shows because of the crisis.

Paul Hendy, of Evolution Productions,

which has staged the last 14 pantomimes at the Marlowe, says he and theatre bosses are likely to have to make a decision next month on whether Jack and The Beanstalk will go ahead in November. “Ordinarily, pre-production would have already been well underway because it’s a long process,” he told the Gazette. “These are big, expensive, time-consuming productions with the casting, set designs and marketing.

“If we spend all that money and there’s a second spike and lockdown, then we’ll be in trouble.

“So unless we get some clear guidance about when theatres can reopen pretty soon, then we will have to drop the show, which would be terribly sad for the theatre and Canterbury itself.

“You really can’t imagine Christmas without the pantomime because it’s vitally important for a lot of people - even more so now in a year when families have been kept apart. “We’re trying to stay optimistic but unless we get that information from the government, then we will have to make a decision, certainly in August, although we don’t have an exact date set in stone.”

The chief executive of the Marlowe Theatre Trust, Deborah Shaw, says it is budget-planning for both outcomes. “Pantomime is a big part of every theatre’s year and a key contributor to income, so to lose it would have an impact,” she said.

“But part of this whole process is thinking the unthinkable.

“The panto is currently built into our rescue plan but we are budget planning for both scenarios and not pre-empting the decision.

“It’s complicated because it’s a moving picture and we are expecting more guidance from the government soon. “The pantomime is a joint production between the theatre and the show producers and we speak as one. We will have to make the decision on whether or not to go ahead next month, unless the government makes that decision for us.”

■ What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk

Marlowe favourite Ben Roddy, as Mother Goose; and left, Paul Hendy and Emily Woods, whose company produces the pantomime

Marlowe Theatre Trust chief executive Deborah Shaw