February 2026

Alice dreams of a life far more exciting than the one she knows — until one extraordinary day she spots a White Rabbit frantically checking his pocket watch. Curiosity gets the better of her, and she follows him headlong into the magical, muddled, and utterly nonsensical world of Wonderland.Arriving just in time for the Queen of Hearts’ annual coronation, Alice encounters a host of strange, quirky, and wonderfully eccentric characters. But beneath the madness, danger is brewing. Before she realises it, Alice is caught up in a daring coup and finds herself imprisoned, facing the terrifying prospect of losing her head!As the King of Clubs gathers his hand to overthrow the Queen of Hearts and seize control of Wonderland, time is running out. Will anyone be brave enough to save Alice and restore balance to this topsy-turvy world?

Thank you for inviting me to your annual pantomime and for the lovely welcome I received from Natalie Ann and Elliott. I always enjoy my visits to Kintbury and it is lovely to see so many youngsters enjoying performing in your shows each year.This year’s pantomime Alice in Wonderland was written by director Natalie Ann, and I was interested to read the background to her decision to write for the group and to chat to her about it afterwards. I have not seen Alice in Wonderland performed as a pantomime before, but this was a lively production, skilfully adapted with lots of parts giving the chance for all of the group to shine. There were plenty of corny jokes, ‘oh no it isn’ts’ and 'it’s behind you’s', all the things you need for a pantomime.CastIsla Burgess (Alice)
Isla was charming as Alice and played the role with a mixture of innocence and wonder at the talking animals and stage creatures she met. She gradually became feistier and more determined as the perplexing story progressed giving a very confident performance. She spoke and sang with a good clear voice and interacted brilliantly with the other actors.Josh Stone (White Rabbit)
Josh was sparky and full of character as the ever late white rabbit. In his characterisation he was perfectly agitated and anxious about acquiring all the things the Queen of Hearts wanted so that he could keep his head. Much of his stage time was on his on his own in front of the tabs or just interacting with one other actor, but he maintained his stage presence and gave a confident performance. He had lots of energy and great speed and deliberation as he ran around the hall.Eva Burgess (Chester)
Eva made the perfect Cheshire Cat. She had plenty of sass and strong opinions as she guided Alice through Wonderland. She maintained a slightly mysterious air about her and delivered her witty lines with attitude. Eva had great stage presence and her movement across the stage was beautifully feline. She had wonderful facial expressions, communicating so much without words as she reacted to what was going on around her. She looked amazing in her orange and purple costume with some amazing face painting!Alice Bold (Hatter) & Charlie Patterson (Hare)
These two were a great double act, and their partnership was very strong. They bounced off each other very well, delivering all their comedy lines with perfect timing and expressions. Together they had a good rapport with the audience.
Alice had excellent stage presence and delivered the part of the Mad Hatter with bags of character and eccentricity. She had brilliant facial expressions and perfectly timed reactions, delivering her lines
with clarity and excellent projection.
Charlie interacted very well with Alice, and he too had some wonderful facial expressions and perfectly delivered jokes.
At times, his dialogue was a little unclear due to his enthusiastic delivery, and slowing down a little would ensure that all his lines are heard.Aleisha Ramsey (Caterpillar & Opening Singer)
I was impressed with Aleisha’s confidence opening the show out in front of the tabs and she sang with good tone and expression.
As the caterpillar, she was irascible and erudite as she gave out advice to Alice and had some wonderfully ill-tempered facial expressions. Her song ‘I Am Beautiful’ which is not easy to sing was really lovely and emotional, culminating in her turning into a beautiful butterfly.Ian Robinson (Queen of Hearts)
Ian had good characterisation as the haughty Queen of Hearts as he flounced around the stage ordering people around. He delivered the iconic line ‘Off with her head’ perfectly much to the amusement of the audience. His rapport with the audience was good as he encouraged them to interact with him which they did with enthusiasm. His performance of the song ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ which he spoke/sang was full of character, and although his tuning and timing were a little out, he certainly delivered it with energy.Stephen Cook (King of Clubs) & Robert Hughes (Jack)
Stephen made a good baddie and was deliciously sneaky and scheming. He had very good stage presence and a stance that was befitting of his role. He delivered his lines with a deep booming voice which was perfect for the King of Clubs.
His side kick Robert playing the jack of spades was great in the role and definitely had the measure of the King.
He had plenty of attitude and stage presence and although small in stature was big in character. His facial expressions as he reacted to the King and all his scheming were excellent.
Stephen led the Clubs in a medley of meanness, starting with ‘I want it All’ and also an Adam Ant song. Although a little less assured in his tuning, his performance was full of character and together with his backing group of Clubs he threw himself into the song and the choreography.Kathryn Bowers (Queen of Diamonds) & Scarlett Rimmer (Di (10))
Playing the second baddie of the piece, Kathryn was determined to take over from the Queen of Hearts whatever the cost. Obsessed with glittery diamonds and the need for more, she teamed up with the King of Spades to stake a takeover bid. Kathryn had excellent stage presence and strong characterisation. She spoke with clarity and sang with lovely tuning and expression.
Her second in command was Di the 10 of Diamonds, played by Scarlett.
Scarlett had good line delivery and performed confidently. She had good movement around the stage and danced with grace and expression, finishing all her lines beautifully.Roy Hutchins (Jester & Ace of Spades)
Roy gave good performances in both of his roles. As the jester, he came on juggling three balls and bounced around the stage with all the energy you except from this role. He had very good line delivery, presenting all the jester’s corny jokes with great comic timing and the odd moment of getting a little tongue tied just added to his characterisation.
As the Ace of Spades, he was suitably more in control and commanded respect from the other cards. His movement suited both roles, and he was amusing in his physicality.Erin Fox-Shatford (Tweedle-Dee) & Dexter Goodall (Tweedle D.U.M)
These two interacted well together. Initially strong and silent with just some disapproving facial expressions for communication, then more animated with some lovely comedy moments.
Dexter’s determination to be known as Tweedle D.U.M. not dumb was nicely delivered. On a few occasions, their lines were a little lost, but turning slightly towards the audience and projecting a little more will improve this.Deck of CardsHearts – Alma Burgess (8) Naomi Hutchins (6) & Millie Blackwell (2)
Clubs – Lexi Dopson (9), Ella Hughes (8), Gabe Bowers (6)
Diamonds – Alice Pain (7) & Alexander Shaw (5)
Spades – Seren Norman (7), Bryn Norman (5) & Andreea Varodin (4 Patru)
With Colby Dopson (Cocktail Charlie & DJ Dodgson)Animals & FlowersAlexander Shaw (Mouse & Flower), Naomi Hutchins (Dodo & Flower), Alice Pain (Otter & Flower), Gabe Bowers (Squirrel & Flower), Ella Hughes (Peacock, Lorina & Flower), Bryn Norman (Robin &Flower), Alma Burnage (Deer & Flower), Seren Norman (Fox & Flower), Millie Blackwell (Owl), Lexi Dopson (Flower), Andreea Varodin (Flower), Mollie Butler (Dormouse)The chorus of youngsters were enthusiastic and worked very well together and although some were a
little quiet initially in their line delivery, they gained in confidence as the show went on. Those who were more confident spoke with good projection out into the audience so that we could hear them nice and clearly. For those who were a little quiet, turning a little more to the audience rather than speaking across the stage and speaking to the back row, with help develop their stage craft even more.There were some lovely interactions between the animals and flowers, and they looked to be relishing their roles. They sang well as a group and managed their dance moves stylishly and with great energy.All the playing cards worked well in their teams and the song and dance showdown between the suits was really well done. This was led by Colby as DJ Dodgson and was great entertainment.CreativesNatalie Ann Riley (Director & Choreographer) with Stephen Cook (Producer)
Working together, Natalie Ann and Stephen created a wonderfully magical imaginary world with talking animals and warring playing cards. There were some great characterisations from both the youngsters and the adults and some polished performances. The show had been well cast with plenty of opportunity for everyone to have a role and shine on stage. They had developed good chemistry and well-developed relationships between the characters. I particularly liked that each of the adult principals had a side kick or team to support them. The principals gave strong performances and were very well supported by the minor principals and ensemble. There was some lovely rapport going on with the audience eliciting lots of audience participation.The directing team had set some of the action in front of the tabs during scene changes and used the whole hall for chase scenes and entrances for the chorus which was very effective. The choreography was designed with simple repeated steps which worked well for the group numbers and the cast looked to be really enjoying the dances. There were certainly lots of smiley faces.This is my fourth trip to Kintbury to watch the annual pantomime, and it is clear to see that under the direction of this team, the youngsters are developing their theatre craft, taking on bigger roles and growing in confidence in their performances.Elliott Riley (Stage Manager) with Phil Day (Props Manager)
The stage was well managed by Elliott with the entrances and exits being kept clear so that the large cast could access the stage unimpeded. The scene changes were smooth and with some of the action occurring in front of the tabs, during scene changes seemed to happen as if by magic!
Also working back stage, Phil ensured that the props were handy so that they came on in a timely fashion.The Glitter Cannons (Set Design Team) with Phil Day, Elliott Riley, Stephen Cook, Roy Hutchings, Sam
Mildenhall & Claire McCorquodale (Set Build Crew)
The home-built set was imaginatively designed and created many different locations for the pantomime action to take place. I particularly liked the backdrop for the mad hatter’s tea party which had been decorated with time pieces and lots of references to playing cards. The table was filled with everything needed for a tea party with a very fine tea pot decorated with hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades.
The final backdrop with hearts and roses was also very impressive and was perfect for the resolution of the story and the walk down.
The flickering mesh which was used for Alice falling down the rabbit hole was very effective and having her sitting on a stool covered with blacks allowed her to move with her legs in the air as if she was falling a long way.Ben Hutchings (Light)
The set was well lit with all areas of the stage covered. The use of coloured LED lights in the hall allowed the atmosphere on stage to be transferred also into the audience. The moving lights on the ceiling were also very effective.Julie Carlisle (Sound) with Elliott Riley & Benjamin Rogerson (Music)
The sound was well balanced so that the singers could be heard above the recorded tracks.
The music had been well sourced to give a variety of songs which suited both the characters and the story.
The sound effects were well cued and effective. I loved the cuckoo clock in the tea party and some well-timed thunder.Lynette Newey, Karen Robinson, Gill Verrall, Natalie Anne Riley, Phil Day, Claire McCorquodale &
Parents (Costumes)
The costumes were brilliant with a lot of attention to detail. The tabards for the playing cards were very effective, and it was clear which suit and number card each of the cast was.
The Queen of Hearts was dressed in black, red and white with some large hearts on her dress as you would expect. Her red wig was very impressive and the double crowning over her large wig at the end was very funny.
The Queen of Diamonds looked very fine in her sparkly red dress, and Jack and the King of Clubs were
appropriately dressed all in black.
All the animals looked the part, and the flower heads were brilliant.
The Mad Hatter’s steampunk styled costume was great and the White Rabbit’s costume complete with a pocket watch worked well as did the yellow and red jester suit.
All in all, the costumes were spectacular and really added to the production.Natalie Ann Riley with the chaperone team of Rachel Hughes, Tegan Scapens, Gill
Verrall & Natalie Stevenson (Face Painters)
As well as ensuring that the youngsters were kept safe on and off stage, the chaperones were also kept very busy painting faces! Each of the animals, had wonderful face paint designs which really enhanced their looks. Chester the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit looked particularly fine and the painted designs lasted well for the whole performance.Thank you one again for inviting me and congratulations to you all on producing another enjoyable pantomime.Cate
NODA London District 13 Representative

February 2025

Kintbury St. Mary's Drama Group are proud to presentSleeping Beauty
by Ben CrockerEveryone in the village of Woollycombe is excited for the christening of Princess Aurora, when the bad fairy Carabosse arrives to place a curse on the little baby. Thankfully, good fairy Peaceful is on hand to cast one more spell that will send the entire royal household into suspended sleep. Will anyone find a way to break the curse?Join us for our annual pantomime February half-term 2025. We invite you to cheer the heroes, boo the villains and sing along as we follow this classic fairy tale adventure with a unique panto twist!

Thank you for inviting me to your annual pantomime and for the lovely welcome I received. I always
enjoy my visits to Kintbury and it is lovely to see so many youngsters performing on stage enjoying
themselves. Unfortunately, when I came to the review the show an audience member was taken ill
and collapsed so that the show was stopped at the end of act one. I am glad to hear that the audience
member is now well again and that the rest of the run went off without a hitch. My review therefore
is done from a watching act one live and act two from a video (thank you Elliott for sending that over
to me).
Sleeping Beauty is a lovely traditional pantomime, and the group threw themselves into the
performance with enthusiasm and great camaraderie to tell the story.CASTRoy Hutchings (King Norbert)
I really enjoyed Roy’s portrayal of the King. He had good characterisation, clearly under the thumb of
the queen but with moments where he took control. He had very good line delivery, getting all the
nuances of the lines and corny jokes in with great comic timing. His movement suited the role, and he
was amusing in his physicality. He did really well to remember and recite all the very many rhyming
names of princess Aurora.Stephen Cook (Queen Dorothy)
Stephen really looked the part as Queen Dorothy (the dame) with vibrant gaudy makeup up and
flamboyant dresses. He had had developed good characterisation as the rather dominant queen and
had very good rapport with the audience encouraging them to participate with the goings on. He
moved well around the stage with some lovely slapstick in the messy scene. He spoke and sang with a
low voice rather than adopting the more common falsetto dame vocals, but this did not distract from
his portrayal.Eva Burgess (Princess Aurora)
Eva started the performance as a ballerina in a music box and demonstrated good balance as she was
pirouetted in an arabesque position. She was a very charming princess with a gentle nature and sang
with a lovely vice nicely in tune and with good dynamics. Her duets with Josh who played the prince
were lovely, well balanced and very tuneful. She had good rapport with the other actors, particularly
with Prince Orlando and her father and interacted well with the audience. Eva had good stage
presence and moved well around the stage.Scarlett Rimmer (Kitty)
Although Scarlett had no words, she communicated such a lot with her facial expressions, actions and
reactions. She moved with feline grace and really came into her own in the kitchen messy scene and
in the chase.Alice Bold (Billy: royal butler, stable boy….. general dogsbody)
I really enjoyed Alice’s performance, she had excellent stage presence and delivered the part of “royal
butler and general dogsbody” with bags of character and confidence. She had excellent comic timing,
a good rapport with the audience and perfectly timed her actions and reactions to what was going on
around her. Alice delivered her lines with clarity and excellent projection and sang with good tuning
and dynamics.Erin Fox-Shatford (Hattie)
Erin participated well as a member of the court staff. She spoke a little quietly, and turning a quarter
turn towards the audience to deliver her lines would improve her projection.Josh Stone (Prince Orlando)
Josh had excellent stage presence and energy, carrying himself as one would expect for a royal prince.
His diction was clear, and he projected well both in his spoken lines and in his singing vocals. His
chemistry with Eva the principal girl was very natural, and their duets were lovely, sung with feeling
and expression.Kathryn Bowers (Carabosse)
Kathryn made a very good baddy and was fierce and evil in her portrayal.
She was totally believable in the part, commanding the stage and getting the boos she deserved every
time she entered the stage. She managed the audience very well giving as good as she got and
interacted very well with Spindleshanks her cat to make an evil double-act. She also sang well and in
character.Emily Archer (Spindleshanks) Evil talking cat
I really enjoyed Emily’s performance, and she looked very comfortable playing a baddie. She was
wicked and menacing, but a delicious element of humour and a twinkle in her eye. She had excellent
characterisation and physicality and moved across the stage with purpose and menace.
Emily also supported the lady who had collapsed and her friends until the ambulance came and was
very calm and knowledgeable in her care. They definitely looked to be in good hands.Sam Archer (Fairy Peaceful)
Sam delivered her rhyming lines with warmth and charm, and it was clear that she was a kind fairy. At
times, she got a little lost with her lines, needing prompting which seemed to throw her a bit in act
one. Lines do of course get lost in live performance but try avoiding being too obvious looking to the
prompt and the audience will likely not notice! Sam sang well in her duet “Oom Pah Pah” with
Carabosse, and there was some lovely interaction between the good and the bad fairies.Sam was supported by Millie Blackwell (Fairy Graceful), Aleisha Ramsey (Fairy Beautiful) and Ella
Hughes (Fairy Thoughtful). Together these three gave gentle and kind performances as the other
good fairies. They delivered their lines with grace, and you felt that they really cared about princess
Aurora and her parents.Millie Blackwell, Gabe Bowers, Isla Burgess, Alma Burnage, Mollie Butler, Erin Fox-Shatford, Ella
Hughes, Robert Hughes, Jake Hutchins, Naomi Hutchins, Seren Norman, Aleisha Ramsey and
Andreea Varodin (The Villagers and Zombies)Isla Burgess, Alma Burnage, Robert Hughes and Andreea Varodin (also playing the Servants)Together this group of youngsters gave some great performances singing and dancing and supporting
the principals. Many had step forward lines and they are developing some excellent comic timing and
characterisation. I was particularly impressed by the four who had memorised all of Princess Aurora’s
many names! They performed in front of the tabs during scene changes entertaining the audience
with humorous interactions, singing and dancing. They had learnt very many dances and performed
them with energy and accuracy. The dance routine and chase to “Thriller” was particularly good and
the physical theatre routine with the rope to depict the forest of thorns was very visual and
effectively done.CREATIVESNatalie Ann Riley (Director and Choreographer) with Stephen Cook (Producer)
Working together, Natalie Ann and Stephen created a production which combined some great
performances with imaginatively designed sets and costumes to create an entertaining pantomime. I
am always happy to see youngsters up on stage learning their craft and performing with the adults of
the society and it is clear that under the direction of this team, the youngsters are growing in
confidence in their performances.
The show had been well cast and there was good chemistry and well-developed relationships
between the characters. The principals gave strong performances and were very well supported by
the minor principals and ensemble. The singing and dancing were strong, and all of the cast had good
rapport with the audience with some lovely audience participation.
The action in front of the tabs during scene changes was well designed and made good use of the
space. The youngsters were very funny in their interaction with the audience and although a little
quiet at times, were clearly confident on stage. The choreography for the dances and chase scene was
designed with simple steps which worked well for the numbers and all the cast had mastered the
steps and looked comfortable with them. The zombie thriller dance in particular was a really fun
routine. The band performance of “Dream a Little Dream” with Queen Dorothy on keys, King Norbert
on guitar, Billy on the one-man-band and Princess Aurora singing was a lovely number which
combined an enjoyable musical number with a lot of good humour. The kitchen scene was a highlight
with very cleverly timed appearances of rats coming out of opening flaps and cooking pots much to
the amusement of the audience.
I was very impressed by the way that Natalie Ann (and Emily) handled the crisis when the audience
member collapsed. She was calm and efficient ensuring that the audience member was well cared for
whilst they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Making the decision to cancel act two cannot have
been easy, but was the right thing to do taking the welfare of the cast into account as they had a
second performance later that day.Elliott Riley (Stage Manager)
The stage was well managed with the entrances and exits being kept clear so that the large cast could
access the stage unimpeded. The scene changes were quite lengthy as there were quite a lot of set
pieces to be changed, but in the main part these occurred during action in front of the tabs and so did
not delay the flow of the production.Rachel Hughes, Tegan Scapens and Lisa Bullock (Chaperones)
With most of the cast being of chaperone age, it is essential to have chaperones to supervise the
youngsters both on and off stage. This was particularly important considering the crisis that occurred,
and I am sure that everyone was glad to have experienced chaperones on hand to ensure that the
youngsters were kept safe.The Glitter Cannons (Set Design Team) Phil Day and Elliott Riley with support of (Set build Crew)
Steve Bowers, Stephen Cook, Alastair Day, Ben Hutchings, Sam Mildenhall,
Natalie Ann Riley and Rosemary TrigwellThe home-built set was well designed with lots of acting locations. The musical box with a large key
winder which was featured at the beginning was a nice touch and a lovely introduction to the
pantomime. The kitchen set with a painted backdrop with shelves, kitchen counter and oven
was especially fine with a lot of attention to detail. The opening flaps in the kitchen through which the
rats kept appearing were very effective. The village scene with the castle in the background was also
very effective again with a lot of attention to detail and gave perspective to the set.Ben Hutchings (Lighting)
The stage was well lit with no areas in shadow. The green lighting used when Carabosse and
Spindleshanks were on stage was very effective and gave a sinister look to the set. Equally the lighting
for the zombie dance and chase scenes added to the atmosphere.Ian Robinson (Sound Design)
The sound cues were well chosen and well timed. The tinkling effect for casting of spells was perfectly
timed and the choices of music were effective and used well in the scene changes. In general, the
sound was well balanced between the singers and the tracks, although just at the beginning the music
was a little on the loud side.Lynette Newey, Karen Robinson, Mo Osbourne and Claire McCorquodale (Costumes)
The costumes were very good using lots of colours, and some lovely features. The costumes for the
ensemble were bright and well-co-ordinated and their costumes for the zombies suitably drab. The
dame had a good array of flamboyant dresses, and the king and royal staff looked very fine in red and
black. There was a good contrast between the good fairies and Carabosse using pastels for the good
and black for the bad. The make up for the dame and the cats was effective and very nicely designed.Phil Day (Properties)
There were a lot of good props especially in the kitchen scene. The pots and pans were effective and
the multitude of rats very comical. The one-man-band and the spinning wheel were very impressive
and the trailing ivy that grew over the king and queen’s thrones effective in showing that a lot of time
had passed.Thank you one again for inviting me and although I only managed to see act one live, it was an
enjoyable afternoon and I enjoyed watching act two on the video. Congratulations on the rest of your
run and here’s to next year!Cate
NODA London District 13 Representative

February 2024

Show Report
It was a great pleasure to join you again for your annual pantomime and to experience the wonderful family and community support for the group. There was so much enthusiasm from the entire cast of 18 children and 7 adults as they performed Jack and the Beanstalk together.CastJosh Stone (Jack Trot) was super in the role of principal boy playing the cheerful son of the Dame with a big smile and lots of enthusiasm. He had clear speech and a good singing voice. He had lots of energy and seemed to be enjoying being on stage giving a very confident performance.Ian Robinson (Dame Trot) really looked the part as the Dame with super makeup, costumes, and wigs. He had good movement around the stage and a good rapport with the audience. Although he did not use the typical falsetto voice synonymous with a pantomime Dame, he delivered his lines and corny jokes in character. He spoke his songs in rhythm rather than singing and between him and the pianist cleverly turned his slight loss of rhythm into part of the performance to the amusement of the audience.Eva Burgess (Simone, Jack’s sister), was engagingly and naturally played by Eva who managed to encourage plenty of audience participation from the outset with her calls for encouragement to be brave. She had lovely clear diction and bags of character.Shawn Archer and Claire McCorquodale (Daisy the Cow) Together, these two made a delightfully funny Daisy, they had great physicality and comic timings and some brilliant facial expressions. The milking parlour scene complete with lots of ‘pull the udder one jokes’ where a member of the audience was brought up onto stage to milk her was hilarious.Stephen Cook (King Bertram) gave a good portrayal of the rather absent minded and ineffectual King. On occasions he seemed a little hesitant with his lines, but this worked for the character. Stephen looked the part and engaged well with the other actors in their quest to free the princess.Isla Meaney (Princess) This young lady simply shone on stage with a winning smile and she performed with energy and pace. She was the perfect modern heroine, playing the principal girl with sass and a dose of vigour. Isla’s singing was superb with lovely tone and dynamics.Alice Bold (Trumpet) I really loved Alice’s performance. She had excellent comic timing, and great physicality and facial expressions. She was perfect as the King’s knave and was absolutely in control of the proceedings. The scene where she was an eavesdropping tree was brilliantly done.Samantha Archer (Edena the Eco Fairy) entered gracefully in her green and natural looking costume to give us the introduction to the pantomime. She had a warmth and charm about her character which contrasted well with the baddies. Samantha narrated throughout in perfectly timed rhyming verse. She had a good singing voice and balanced well with Slimeball in the audience participation song ‘Walla Walla Bing Bang’. She was supported by fairies Seren Astley and Alma Burnage who moved with grace around the stage.Emily Archer (Slimeball) as the baddie and henchman of the giant managed the audience well responding perfectly to all the booing. She was actually quite a nice baddie and maybe could have developed her meanness a bit more in the part. Emily managed her rhyming lines well and her relationship with Edena the good fairy was very well played. She had very clear diction in both her spoken lines and in her singing and was confident on stage.Alex Meaney (Giant Blundebore) was gruff and menacing which worked well for the role of the giant. Being a tall adult with a cast made up mostly of children helped to emphasise that he was a scary
giant. Alex coped extremely well when things didn’t go according to plan with the stealing of his keys, moving in his chair so that eventually they could be untied.Scarlett Rimmer (Ghost) The spooky ghost dance was a great routine and Scarlett’s entrances and exits onto the forestage to scare the Dame and her friends were perfectly timed.VillagersOscar Archer, Seren Astley, Isla Burgess, Alma Burnage, Gabe Bowers, Jake Hutchins, Leo Hutchins, Naomi Hutchins, Kathryn Bowers, Lisa Bullock, Brooke Lawrence, Kendra Matthews, Maisie Mildenhall, Billy Mildenhall, Scarlett Rimmer and Erin Fox-Shatford
The large ensemble of youngsters accompanied by two of the chaperones on stage were a colourful group of villagers who added good support to the principals. Many had step forward lines which they delivered well. Together, they sang with confidence with many of the group taking solo lines in the songs. They all danced with energy and obvious enjoyment.The Goblin EliteBilly Mildenhall (Sarge), Kendra Matthews (Goblin Smith), Maisie Mildenhall (Goblin Jones), Erin Fox Shatford (Goblin Chetwyn Douglas-Scott),
Led by Sarge, the team of the goblin elite worked very well together, delivering their lines with clarity and moving on stage with confidence.The Trainee GoblinsOscar Archer, Seren Astley, Isla Burgess, Alma Burnage, Gabe Bowers, Jake Hutchins, Leo Hutchins, Naomi Hutchins
The trainees entered from the hall and marched up onto the stage in synchronicity to the well-known US Marine chant “I don’t know but I’ve been told’. They were very amusing as they ‘shook’ in line and delivered their spoken lines and corny jokes with panache. They had excellent comic timing and it was great to see how confident even the youngest actors were.CreativesNatalie Ann Riley (Director/Choreographer) assisted by Joanna Dewey (Producer)
Together, the Director and Producer had clearly worked very hard to bring together all the very many elements required to manage a show of this size with such a large junior cast, which they did with great success.
The show had been well cast, and Natalie had developed the chemistry between the principal actors both young and older so that they were very natural together. The cast effectively brought out all the humour of the script delivering the corny pantomime jokes and innuendos perfectly and engaging the audience to participate in the fun. It is quite a challenge to work with such a young cast, but it definitely paid off and it was lovely to see the youngsters performing so confidently on-stage developing skills that they will employ for years to come.
Natalie had designed some of the action to take place in front of the tabs including the ghost dance and the audience participations song which worked effectively to cover the necessary changes taking place behind without losing any continuity of action.
The choreography was designed with simple steps which the cast danced very well, and it was clear that everyone knew the routines and were enjoying them.Matthew Trigwell (Pianist) accompanied the cast songs on the piano at the front of the stage, as well as playing the underscore and some of the sound effects. The group all sang really well together and the smiles on their faces and obvious enjoyment when they sang were fantastic. It was clear that Matt was enjoying himself and his interaction with the Dame when things went slightly amiss added to the humour. I am sure that having Matt close on hand to support them gave confidence to all the singers both young and old.Elliott Riley (Stage Manager) assisted by Georgina Mildenhall
The stage was well managed with the entrances and exits being kept clear so that the large cast could access the stage unimpeded, and Elliott succeeded in ensuring that the show ran smoothly from start to finish. I am sure that the director and cast were reassured to have such an experienced manager backstage supporting them.Kathryn Bowers, Charlotte Bullock and Lisa Bullock (Chaperones)
With so many children in the cast and it is essential to have the support of chaperones and for this show, two of the chaperones accompanied the youngsters on stage, even singing a solo each. There were many different entrance points and movement within the hall, and along with the stage manager, the chaperones ensured that they were supervised and safe at all times.Phil Day (Set Design and Props Manager) assisted by Shawn Archer, Joanna Dewey, Stephen Cook, Ben Hutchings, Roy Hutchings, Georgina Mildenhall, Sam Mildenhall, Elliott Riley, Natalie Ann Riley (Set Build Crew)
I really liked the door effect at the beginning between the tabs which cleverly gave the impression that we were entering a book for the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. In the first act, the set was designed and painted as a village scene and as Dame Trot’s dairy. In the second act, we were transported to the giant’s kitchen up in the clouds and back to the village. The set had been well designed and painted to effectively show each location whilst leaving a good-sized acting space. The rising beanstalk at the end of act one added to the scene and was very effective and impressive. There were a good number of props which added to the action and in particular, the three-legged milking stool and milk bucket were very authentic in the dairy. The giant’s harp and chicken with a very large golden egg were also very effective.Ben Hutchings (Lighting and Sound)
The lighting and sound were well run with the stage well-lit in all areas. There was a good use of coloured lighting in the hall and the strobe lighting was very effective in the chase scene. The sound effects were well cued and the sound between the keyboard and singers well balanced.Mo Osbourne (Costume Mistress) assisted by Lynette Newey and Karen Robinson
The costumes were super and very effective. The villagers were very colourful and well-co-ordinated and the Dame had a fine set of dresses and wigs. I really liked the contrast between Edena’s natural colours and nature effect and Slimeball’s ‘steam punk look’ It accentuated the good and the bad. The giant dressed in a shabby suit was reminiscent of Roal Dahl’s BFG which suited his demeanor.

February 2023

Kintbury St. Mary's Drama Group

Kintbury St. Mary's Drama Group was founded in 1972 by Mrs. Christine Millard and Rev. Albert Millard with the mission to bring plays and entertainment to the village of Kintbury. We proudly welcome community members from Kintbury and surrounding villages to join us, with a special emphasis on involving children and teenagers in our annual pantomime.

Our group is inclusive, welcoming everyone from year 1 primary school students to those aged 99 and beyond! Each summer, we hold auditions for the annual pantomime, with rehearsals beginning in September. Rehearsals typically take place on Friday nights, with additional Sunday sessions for song and dance practice. A comprehensive rehearsal schedule is provided to all members before they commit to auditions.The much-anticipated show is performed during the February half-term of the following year.For more information, please contact us.

What do the parents say?

“We had an absolutely wonderful experience at the recent performances featuring both of our daughters, and we’re thrilled to share how memorable it was for our family! The shows were a spectacular display of talent, creativity, and hard work, and we couldn’t be prouder of our girls for their incredible performances and to see just how far they have come in confidence since first joining. From the detailed costumes, fantastic set designs to the cool choreography and genuine heartfelt moments on stage, every detail was thoughtfully executed, making it a joy to watch as parents and audience members alike. The entire annual events were well organised, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made us feel truly connected to the local community. Beyond the performances, we also had a fantastic time volunteering behind the scenes in the raffle ticket sales, all for a great cause to be reinvested back into future plays. It was a great opportunity to interact with other families, share in the excitement, and contribute to the success of the event. The enthusiasm and support from everyone involved made it even more special and we couldn’t be more proud to have such a wonderful opportunity here in the village.”
Debbie & Tim Burgess“The Kintbury panto is a fantastic way for children to get involved with a village tradition while having lots of fun and learning new skills. It boosts their confidence and brightens up the dark autumn and winter nights too!”
Maria Ainley-Taylor“My son absolutely loves attending Kintbury St Mary's Drama group every year. It's like a family where everyone is welcome. Like-minded people of all ages work together as a team to put on incredible productions each year & creativity is wholly encouraged. My son has been attending since he was 6 years old and it has boosted his confidence immensely. This will only help him with any future endeavours. I highly recommend Kintbury Drama Group to anyone who wishes to gain experience in performing.”
Nat Stone“Both of my children joined KSMDG in September after moving to the villager. They were made to feel welcome and quickly made friends in the group. Natalie ensured the rehearsals were fun and the children's well-being was always given the highest priority. They loved the experience and are both looking forward to the next one!”
Rachel Hughes“My nine-year-old daughter has been with KSMDG for two years and absolutely loves it! She gets to dance, sing, act, and engage with a wide range of people. The group is a well-run, professional organisation, offering a fantastic opportunity for children to grow, express themselves, and gain confidence through performance.”
Sian Astley“My children love being a part of the Kintbury drama group and putting on a show for the community. With all the help and support to do the performances it makes me as a parent very proud for my children to be a part of the village drama shows.”
Lucy Hutchins

Join the Group

There are lots of ways to get involved in drama.Performing
Are you keen to find out more?
Would you like to take part in the 2025/2026 pantomime?Child Chaperone
Do you hold an enhanced DBS certificate, have experience and love working with children. We need chaperones to support our cast during rehearsals and throughout the performance period.Front of House
Are you able to support the group helping at performances at the box office, managing the raffle or serving refreshments?Set Building
Do you have carpentry skills or handy with a paint brush?Costume
Perhaps you are a talented seamstress or nifty with a needle?Make-Up
Can you use those glamourising skills to bring our Dame to life OR are you a talented face painter? - often required in panto.Lighting & Sound Operators
Are you wired to tackle the technical challenges with spot on timing?If you are interested in joining or would like to know more please contact us today.