The Royal County of Berkshire’s Freemasons have once again put on their Panto-Project fleeces for the Projects 19th year of ensuring that children get the opportunity to see the joy of Pantomime. “Oh yes, they did!” There are 4 events in this 2024 season:
Tuesday, 3rd December’s matinee performance at Windsor’s Theatre Royal saw 360 children, carers, siblings and parents chattering excitedly and squealing in awe as they entered the decorated auditorium. For many it was their first time setting foot inside a Theatre. Santa was on hand to say hello and welcome the children, along with the Panto Project team and some of the leaders of Berkshire’s Freemasons. Dick Whittington is 2024’s Christmas seasonal offering at Windsor. Stars include Steven Blakeley, Lyn Paul, Kevin Cruise, Hilary O’Neil and topping the bill one Mr Basil Brush (Boom Boom!). The cast brought the unique charm of pantomime storytelling to the beautiful surroundings of the Theatre Royal. Rest assured though; grown-ups had plenty to laugh about as well. Christmas jumpers and some rather excellent Santa hats were in evidence and brightened up the drab, warm coats that people had arrived wearing in an otherwise wintery Windsor. Ice cream was supplied to the children during the interval courtesy of Beechdean.
Schools were represented at Windsor by Philip Southcote, Pathway Special Needs, Addington, Millside & Haybrook, Stony Dean and Furze Platt. Charities attending on the day at Windsor included Home Start, Family Friends & Sebastian’s Action Trust.
As has proven highly satisfying to those who benefitted last year, the Panto Project continue to offer Pantomime opportunities to other schools and families in other parts of Berkshire. On Friday, 29th November, at Newbury, 70 tickets were funded by Berkshire Freemasons at the Corn Exchange’s Panto production of Dick Whittington. And
later this month, 30 children from PALS West Berkshire will see a ‘relaxed’ performance of the panto.
This year, the Panto Project has also contributed £2,000 to the Corn Exchange “Pay It Forward” appeal (PIF), enabling the theatre to fund tickets for 140 children qualifying for “pupil premium” at 9 local schools. (The PIF appeal started three years ago, inspired by the principles of our Panto Project.)
Maidenhead’s Manor Green School will host a touring Pantomime for at least 100 children, funded by the Berkshire Freemasons, later this year, giving children whose challenges often make it difficult to attend a standard Theatre an opportunity to enjoy a panto experience.
These Pantomime events are a very welcome gift from the Freemasons of Berkshire to the children of the communities in which they live and work. The Louis Bayliss Trust also generously contributed towards the Project. Every year, a new group of children gets to see what may be their only theatre production. There’s nothing else quite like the colour, flare, and interactivity of a live production staged by professional production companies and incredible actors that was made for younger audiences.
Neil Murphy, himself a Berkshire Freemason who leads the organisation behind the Panto Project, said,
“It’s a culmination of a year’s work to make this happen, and seeing the joy on the children’s faces makes it all completely worthwhile. I have already started organising 2025’s Panto Project and am grateful for all the hard work and giving from Berkshire’s Freemasons, allowing us to bring the joy of a pantomime experience to eligible children and their families.”
