Monklands residents can still enjoy a panto experience this Christmas as North Lanarkshire’s annual production goes virtual – with an interactive plot to be decided by viewers.
Lost in Pantoland, which has been created following the award of Creative Scotland coronavirus relief funding, will be available to stream from December 16 until January 10 while local theatres and entertainment venues remain closed.
Audiences can choose their own adventure from the comfort of home, helping a cast including North Lanarkshire panto favourite Ian “Sheepie” Smith in the quest to banish King Rat by harnessing the magic of every pantomime – by making decisions to determine how the story develops and even allowing those watching to go back to the start and create another storyline in a later viewing.
Virtual family tickets are available at www.culturenl.co.uk/PantoAtHome and are priced from £10.
The production has been developed thanks to the award of nearly £204,000 in performing arts relief fund support awarded to Culture and Leisure North Lanarkshire (CLNL), which is being shared between regular panto venue Motherwell theatre, Bellshill cultural centre and Airdrie venue Sir John Wilson town hall.
It is being used to support the facilities while they are unable to reopen due to “the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic” and for the development of an online programme including community arts activity, comedy and cinema.
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Airdrie’s town hall regularly staged a wide range of shows, exhibitions and events in its 600-capacity main hall, and also boasts a cinema in its upstairs hall.
The award made to CLNL in September was the seventh-largest of the 41 grants made from the government fund through Creative Scotland to 59 venues across Scotland, totalling £4.74 million, to fund the planning and delivery of future activities and provide commissioning and employment opportunities for freelancers.
