Paisley’s famous PACE panto will be bringing laughter into people’s homes until the end of January.
Lost in Pantoland was a massive festive hit for the Paisley young people’s theatre group with 26,000 views online so far.
It was due to be taken down from Facebook and YouTube on January 5 but due to lockdown restrictions, bosses decided to keep it online to keep people smiling.
PACE received funding for the panto from Creative Scotland’s Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund, which was awarded to Renfrewshire Leisure for a programme of events in Paisley Arts Centre.
Despite having just eight weeks to create the hour-long performance – rather than the usual eight months – the team quickly got to work to see what they could do.
Producer Alan Orr said: “The funding gave us an opportunity to avoid cancelling panto altogether so we jumped at the idea.
“Lost in Pantoland has been more successful that we could ever have hoped for.
“Everyone has experienced tough times this year, and from the outset we really just wanted to find a way to bring some laughter and cheer into everyone’s homes.
“We had an incredible team working to turn it around in an almost impossible timescale and we’re especially grateful that we have been able to support actors and freelance theatre artists from many disciplines, in a year when their work prospects have all but disappeared.”
The show stars Chris Alexander, Alan Orr, Darren Brownlie and Dani Heron, that's her above as Cinderella, who tell the story of Widow Swanky and her son Billy Bob who are transported to the wondrous - yet dangerous - Pantoland. While there they go on a hilarious adventure featuring slimy princes, wicked witches and at least one constipated goose.
The show was partly filmed in the streets of Paisley and also features a performance from the young people of PACE.
It’s been a hit with audiences with interactive tickets for each performance selling out within a week and it’s been viewed more than 26,000 times across Facebook and YouTube.
Alan added: “We know that there are families who have been coming to the panto at Paisley Arts Centre for generations, so it’s been really important to us that we have been able to provide an alternative that keeps that tradition alive in some way.
“If anyone has watched and enjoyed the panto, and is in a position to do so, we’d be incredibly grateful for donations of any size at https://www.pacetheatre.com/donate/”
To watch Lost in Pantoland before Sunday, January 31, go to www.facebook.com/paceyouththeatre/Live or https://m.youtube.com/PACETheatreCompany
