Return again Dick W, it’s flip flop panto – oh yes it is!

Most of us might claim that what we love most about Christmas are all the little traditions, especially those involving family. Putting up the tree, writing the cards, Advent calendars, the turkey, carols, a frosty walk to church and, of course, the Queen.

On the other hand that list might just make you shudder, coming relatively so soon after a festive season that was like no other we have ever experienced.

Do you really want to think about Christmas in March? Well, yes, we think it is the perfect time to give Christmas another bash.

Because, for most of us, the one tradition which means most to us, sharing Christmas with our nearest and dearest, simply did not happen just nine short weeks ago.

And being with our families, really being with them instead of having a stuttering, freezing, audio-starved Zoom call, might not be too far away.

And there was one other Christmas custom which did not happen for most families, that of the annual trip to the Kings Theatre, Southsea, for a large brandy butter dollop of postfestive pantomime.

Eleven days into its run last December, the rug was pulled from beneath Dick Whittington by the dastardly Lord Lockdown. Boo! Hiss!

But the Kings has managed to put that disappointment behind them and will rerun The Pompey Panto in what we hope will be the scorching height of a spectacular summer.

For those of us who have always wondered what Christmas Down Under might be like, we are soon to get an inkling.

For you will be able to hurl your panto heckles dressed in shorts and flip flops instead of mitts and mufflers.

It is a brave decision by the Kings – one that deserves the

‘full house’ sign outside in a sun-kissed Albert Road for the duration of the run.