Panto comes down your way

A new collaboration between Glasgow Arts and Hopscotch Theatre Company will bring a fun filled pantomime to ten community venues starting from Wednesday 23 November.

Not only is the credit crunch beginning to bite, but Mother Goose  (played by Paul Kozinski) is ageing fast and has spent all the rent on wrinkle cream. When her Lucy the goosey starts to lay golden eggs it looks as if her worries are over. But the dreadful Demon King (David McGowan and Ross Stenhouse)  has his greedy eye on the Golden Goose and that spells trouble…

Scripted and directed by Ross Stenhouse, the production is a modern take on the traditional tale. It has plenty of singing, dancing, laughs, magic and audience participation. And tickets at £3 and £2 are selling fast which supports the theory that communities have a thirst for live performance.

First stop will be the Lodging House Mission in Gallowgate on 23 November with the last of the 10 shows being in Castlemilk on Saturday 17 December.

Writer, director and actor Ross Stenhouse is a founder member of Hopscotch Theatre and said: ‘Hopscotch are delighted to be performing our pantomime for Glasgow Life for the first time and are looking forward to entertaining audiences all over Glasgow. There will be fun and laughter, boos and hisses and golden eggs aplenty when that goose gets loose aboot the hoose.’

Councillor George Redmond, Chair of Glasgow Life, said; ‘I am excited at our collaboration with Hopscotch Theatre Company this Christmas, to bring all the fun of panto into the very heart of our communities across the city. Encouraging a love of the arts is a wonderful gift to give our children. That often starts with shouting at the pantomime villain and getting involved in a traditional festive show like this one.’

For more information on Mother Goose Community Pantomime  visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts

Dates for the panto are: Wednesday 23 November, Lodging House Mission, G1;

Friday 25 November, Bellcraig Community Centre, G23;

Saturday 26 November, Barmulloch Community Centre, G21;

Friday 2 December, Penilee Community Centre, G52;

Saturday 3 December,The Whiteinch Centre, G14;

Thursday 8 December, Drumchapel Community Centre, G15;

Friday 9 December, Pollok Community Centre, G53;

Thursday 15 December, Shettleston Community Centre, G32,

Friday 16 December, Saint Francis Centre, G5;

Saturday 17 December, Castlemilk Community Centre, G45.

 

Fast track to Panto in the Baths

Work on re-developing the inside front of the Govanhill Baths building is going so well that the space could be ready to welcome people who attend the unique Panto in the Baths on Friday 9 December.

The Citizens Theatre, as good neighbours of the Calder Street Baths building and its Community Trust and in association with the local Centre for Community Practice (CCP), aim to stage two performances that day – a matinee and an evening show.

And they are looking for VOLUNTEERS! ‘It could be performing or production or front-of-house roles,’ said Lisa Peebles, the Trust administrator. ‘We’d be delighted if anyone could find the time to help. They should contact Helen Ross, manager of the CCP on 0141 433 2999 or email:helen@centreforcommunitypractice.org in the first place.’ And don’t forget to book your ticket for the Panto in the Baths too but via Lisa! See the website: www.govanhillbaths.com.

Just last month, the Trust received a grant of £400k from Historic Scotland to develop the first phase of the Baths building which will incorporate offices for the Trust and function space for events. The whole project will deliver a Wellbeing and community centre for the area in time.