The production process was launched recently with a cast party, cake cutting and a read through of the play. “This is a cracker of a cast” said Director Lydia Smith “We have a great mix of experience and fresh faces – with some amazingly talented people on board, both in the cast and the production crew”.

Pantomimes staged by MPAS in previous years – including Cinderella, Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk - have been sell out successes. Aladdin won the “Magic Moment of Theatre” Award in 2014 at the Canberra Area Theatre Awards. 

One of the reasons why pantomime is so popular, Lydia feels, is that it is a wonderful way to introduce children to the joys of live theatre. “They don’t need to sit still and keep quiet – in fact they are encouraged to make lots of noise, and even take part in the action in many places. Many now-famous actors, such as Dan Stevens from Beauty and the Beast and Sir Ian McKellen, attribute their love of acting to being taken to the pantomime as children”.

Supporting roles in the cast are being taken by some of the young people from the Cudgegong Youth Theatre, while many of the adult principals will be familiar to Mudgee audiences from past productions such as Secret Bridesmaids’ Business and South Pacific.

Information about the production can be found on the Society’s website at mpas.org.au and tickets will go on sale in late May.