Forty years of St Gabriel’s pantomimes continues with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Pantomime rehearsal

In 1977, momentous events were taking place across the UK as the Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee... and village pantomimes began taking place at St Gabriel’s Primary School in Castleton, a tradition that still continues to this day.

With the formation of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Billy Sheerin had an ambitious plan, to stage a pantomime in the then relatively new school hall.

There was no proper stage or stage lighting, just a small raised area that could be adapted.

‘Aladdin’ was chosen as his first production, and with makeshift scenery and lighting, colourful costumes sewn together by ladies of the Parish, portable staging blocks loaned from Bishop Henshaw High School (now St Cuthbert’s), a cast of principals with choruses of children numbering just 44, and a piano, a ‘wonderful tradition’ began.

Billy, now Councillor Sheerin, said: “Aladdin made just over ninety pounds profit for the school PTA, which proved pantomime was a financial viability.”

The following year, the cast numbers increased to 88, and the year after to over 100. Any child from junior year one, up to those in the senior high school could be in the panto. No special dancing or singing talents were needed to take part, just enthusiasm.

Grown-ups played the principal roles with children providing the magic, and this is still the case 40 years on.

Over the years, a special purpose collapsible stage was designed and built, proper stage lighting installed, scenery painted by the late Jack Sheerin made the presentation and production full of colour, which is what pantomime is all about.

Even when major alteration to the school building took place a few years ago, this did not prevent the tradition carrying on.

The Panto temporarily moved out of the village down the road to Cardinal Langley High School, returning when the building work was completed.

The stage had to be repositioned after the alterations and this was duly done to enable the show to come back home.

Billy explained: “Children love to perform in front of an audience, and the Panto gives them the opportunity. It also helps their self-confidence, and it teaches them that team work is a good thing, and that theatre is ‘rather good’.

“Lasting friendships have been made and many happy memories that will never be forgotten. These special qualities bring about community cohesion, which is vitally important for our well-being, especially in a small village like Castleton.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opens on Wednesday 22 February for four nights at 7.15pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm. Tickets are £6 for adults and £4 for concessions.

'Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work we go'

For tickets contact Tommy on 01706 353184 or Joanne on 07759 006599.