As part of our Great Big Christmas Show Giveaway, Daily Info are giving away tickets to this year's panto, Dick Whittington at Chipping Norton Theatre. We sat down with the creatives behind this show and see what they have in store for audiences this winter.
Daily Info: What does Chipping Norton Theatre have in store this Christmas?
Chipping Norton Theatre: This year we are hosting our 50th Panto, Dick Whittington! Alongside the fantastic show, we have a special edition programme and panto exhibition that you can enjoy.
DI: For those who don't know it, what's Dick Whittington all about?
CNT: It’s about a young man and his cat trying to seek their fortune and start a new life in a new place. It’s about how scary, exciting and unpredictable life is, and how what you really want is often not what you think it is.
DI: Dick Whittington is a classic tale that will be familiar to a lot of people. How will this show be updated for a modern audience?
CNT: Our version is set in the Victorian era, channelling the spirit of globe-trotting adventure and new-fangled inventions. But it also speaks to a modern audience with lots of very silly and sometimes topical jokes. We have also added a slight twist. Our version is set in the land of Albion, and Dick arrives on its shores from far away, seeking a new life. He find that starting new life in a new place isn’t always as easy as you hoped it would be.
Di: When approaching a classic panto what are the key things a show must get right?
CNT: In our view, it’s got to be laugh out loud funny from beginning to end. It’s got to have great tunes (in our case, specially commissioned original music), stunning scenery and costumes, and engage with lots of the panto traditions such as dames, singalong songs and throwaway sweets.
DI: Sum up Chipping Norton Theatre's Dick Whittington in three words
CNT: Entertaining with heart!
Dick Whittington runs at Chipping Norton Theatre from 16th November 2022 to 15th January 2023 and tickets can be found on their website.
Check out Daily Info's Great Big Chistmas Show Giveaway throughout November for the chance to win tickets to some of the best festive productions.
