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Celebration Christmas Christmas show Community Pantomime Theatre

Dames Find Fame in the HfC Hall of Dame

HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO, ENGLAND - November 13th 2024 : Hall of Dames evening as local Dames visit the Hall for Cornwall as part of the promotional activity for the 2024 HFC Christmas show, Jack and The Beanstalk. Photographed by HfC photographer in residence Hugh Hastings.

HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO, ENGLAND – Nov 13 2024 : Pantomime dames from across Cornwall enjoy an evening on the Cornwall Playhouse stage in advance of the opening of the Cornwall Playhouse Production of Jack And The Beanstalk.. Photographed by HfC photographer in residence Hugh Hastings.

When we started looking at ideas to tell you lovely lot about our very own panto, Jack and the Beanstalk,  we thought that profiling some local Cornish dames would be a fun way to get your attention. Little did we know that this idea would grow, almost as quickly as the beanstalk itself, into not only a beautiful celebration of some of Kernow’s finest amateur (certainly not amateur in their dedication to the work!) panto performers, but also the genesis of a community.  From debut Dames to seasoned veterans, this very special group of people brought a giant sprinkle of magic and warmth into our building throughout the season and reminded us of how effectively our region knits rural and often-isolated communities together through triumphant cultural offerings in village halls and other community venues throughout Cornwall. 

We’ve loved welcoming them into the building. From showing them the ropes backstage to giving a masterclass to a BBC journalist, handing out mince pies on press night to leading a conga through the auditorium, this lot have been up for everything! Join us in celebrating them and all that they represent – Cornish spirit, our local glittering pantoland, and that little bit of magic that happens when a community comes together. 

 

Let’s take a look…

Day One – Edward Rowe
Who else could kick off the run than our very own Maid Trott from Jack and the Beanstalk. It’s the Kernow King!

Day Two – Charlotte Ward
When she’s not pinching the limelight from our technical team at HfC, Charlotte Ward can be found playing Lady Starkey in the 2025 production of Peter Pan with the Trewoon Village Players. 

Day Three – Christopher Gray
Chris is entering his third year of Damehood. You can find him playing Widow Twankey in Aladdin, at St Stephen Community Centre. 

“Being a dame gives you the freedom to explore new ways of comedy and who doesn’t like a guy in a dress.”

Day Four – Chris Kellow
Chris’ favourite dame to play is Mother Goose for the most ridiculous amount of costumes! Chris performs with Bugle Pantomime Group and has done 13 Pantos and counting. 

Day Five – Chris Lobb and Ollie Allen
Chris Lobb (left) can be found strutting his stuff as the flamboyant and flirty Dotty Dimple at Fraddon village hall in Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates.

Ollie Allen (right) is a real Dame veteran, with 10 years under his belt. Behold Dame Dixie Normous at The Wild Arts Theatre Society (TWATS). 

Day Six – Ciaran Clarke
Ciaran Clarke performs at an annual Christmas show, Christmas Time. Despite what his rather fetching wig would have you believe, this show is far from bog standard!  

Day Seven – Darren William and Peter Phillis 
Darren William (left) has been performing as a Dame for St Blazey pantomime for nearly twenty years! He believes the Dame is the glue that holds the panto all together, and who are we to disagree?

Peter Phillis (right) will be brushing up his best dame at the Flushing pantomime in The Parrots of Penzance Panto.

“Being a Dame allows me to bring a little extra laughter to the audience and it gives me such a buzz.” 

Day Eight – Dave Taylor
Dave Taylor isn’t usually found on HfC’s scenery fly floor, but doesn’t he just fit right in?

It was Dave’s debut this year playing Madame Fifi in the St Enoder Pantomime production of Beauty and the Beast. Dave tells us his daughter has been in Panto for over half of her life, and she never thought he would join her! “I just wish I had done it earlier. Just wait for next years show…” (oh yes we will!) 

Day Nine – Jason Dawes and Jamie Pascoe
Jason Dawes (left) stars as Lobelia the Cook! Annette Hillman’s The Princess and the Pea is on at The Mills Hall, Carharrack. Jason comes from a long line of Panto Dames, with his gran, dad and uncle all having donned the dress of Damehood.

Jamie Pascoe (right) is busy coming up with a Dame-name for himself… Dame Edith, perhaps? Jamie performs with C.A.P.E (Cape Amateur Performers Entertainers) based in St Just, showing The Incredible Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor .

Day Ten – Jonathan Groves
Jonathan Groves has performed with Amity in Falmouth and Carnon Downs Drama Group in The Sword and the Stone. He has dabbled in Damehood for 10 years, and recieved a CDA award for dedication! 

Day Eleven – Paul Jones
Paul Jones, known by Panto punters as Dame Helga Van Trump, is on his 5th year as a Dame. Paul plays at the St Dennis Panto with the St Dennis Variety Group.

Day Twelve – Ross Harvey
Ross Harvey as Widow Twankey performs in Wadebridge, and has previously performed as an ugly sister in Cinderella. Ross started in the community theatre group as a way to support the town and spread a bit of joy with likeminded people. 

 

And that’s a wrap – don’t forget to support your local Dame and boo your local baddie!

Whilst you’re in a panto-mood, be sure to book for this years’ at HfC: Aladdin. 

Categories
Celebration Christmas Truro

Jack and the Beanstalk Cast to Hit the Lights at Truro’s Christmas Lights Switch-on: 22nd November

This year’s Jack and the Beanstalk Cast, including Edward Rowe, Kernow King, are ready to hit the lights in Truro on Friday 22nd November when Truro BID will be bringing Festive Friday, featuring Truro’s Christmas Lights Switch-on, to the city for the fourth year.

Johnny Cowling and Lucy Start will be back hosting the event that takes place on the stage in Boscawen Street which is kindly supplied by Truro City Council as part of their contribution to Festive Friday. In the run up to the Christmas Lights being switched-on there will also be special entertainment on the stage from 5pm, organised by our very own Cornwall Playhouse Productions.

At 7pm the lights will be switched-on by Johnny Cowling, Lucy Start and Truro BID, along with special guests including cast members from our Christmas Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, the event sponsor Coodes Solicitors, and the Mayor Truro, Cllr Carol Swain. Following the big switch-on there will be a celebratory live music in Boscawen St until 8.15pm.

Many of Truro’s shop windows will once again be decorated with Christmas reindeer lights from the 22nd November.

In addition to the Lights Switch-on, the Truro Christmas Market starts on Lemon Quay and is open daily for the festive season until Christmas Eve. Trading from 9am until 9pm on Festive Friday, the Truro Christmas Market will showcase local food, drink, arts and crafts from traders across Cornwall in festive wooden cabins set against a backdrop of Christmas lights and music.

For Festive Friday the city’s main shopping streets will be traffic-free all day.

As with previous years, there will be two large viewing screens displaying the live on-stage entertainment. This year, the accessible viewing area for the event will be outside Hall for Cornwall in Boscawen St, so to the right if you are facing the stage.

The Truro Park & Ride will be operating a later service on Festive Friday, with the last service leaving the city at 9.30pm. Due to the diversions in place to create traffic-free shopping, the Park and Ride services towards Tregurra Park will use the bus stop at River Street. Park and Ride services towards Langarth Park will use the stop at Victoria Square.

Truro’s City Centre Christmas Lights are funded and installed by Truro Businesses Improvement District (BID) each year via the BID levy contributions from around 375 Truro Businesses.

Alun Jones, Truro BID Manager said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Festive Friday back to Truro for the fourth year to mark the start of Christmas. With so much going on, security staff and our local police will be on hand to help keep everyone safe at the event. A big thank you to Coodes Solicitors, one of the oldest law firms in Cornwall, for sponsoring Festive Friday. We hope that residents and visitors will continue to enjoy Truro’s Christmas Lights that will be enhancing the shopping experience, throughout the festive season.”

Peter Lamble, Chairman from Coodes Solicitors said “We are thrilled to be able to continue to support the vibrant Truro community by sponsoring this year’s Festive Friday! This event brings together the best of local entertainment, produce, and gifts, making it a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. The Christmas lights switch-on is a highlight of our calendar, and the Coodes team eagerly anticipates it every autumn. With offices spread across Cornwall, including in Truro, we love connecting with the people who make these communities so special. We hope everyone enjoys the magic of Truro’s Christmas lights as much as we do. Here’s to a joyful festive season!”

The on-stage celebrations taking place before the lights are switched-on will feature cast members of Jack and the Beanstalk, including our Dame, Edward Rowe (aka Kernow King). Truro’s local youth talent in the shape of Cornwall Dance School, Jason Thomas Performing Arts and Hall for Cornwall Youth will also be performing.

Helen Tiplady, our Deputy Creative Director said: “We can’t wait to be part of the festive celebrations again. Hall for Cornwall are delighted to be working with Truro BID again and being able to showcase local talent on the same night as the Christmas Lights Switch-on. We hope you’ll enjoy watching the performances as much as we’ve enjoyed working on it.”

As part of their contribution to Festive Friday Truro City Council are providing and putting up the stage in Boscawen St.

The Mayor of Truro, Cllr Carol Swain said: “I, my fellow councillors and all the City Council staff are delighted to be working with Truro BID and other partners to bring festive cheer to the city. I am pleased to be helping to switch-on Truro’s Christmas lights again, as well looking forward to the many other activities and events which will be on offer during the festive season”.

Trafalgar Roundabout will also be transformed for the fifth festive season with a spectacular illuminated model of Truro Cathedral, which will be switched-on daily from Festive Friday.

Truro BID will be bringing back the six large, fun and colourful Christmas lights into the city, which will be illuminated from 22nd November. These include the two large colour festive baubles that will be placed at the Tesco roundabout, along with some others fun lights dotted around the city.

Following Festive Friday, celebrations in Truro will continue with the Father Christmas Parade taking place Wednesday 27th November at 6.30pm. The parade, which will feature Father Christmas in his sleigh, elves, local community dance groups, musicians, and circus performers, coincides with Truro’s first Wednesday Late Night Shopping evening. New for this year, Truro BID have invited City of Lights to be represented at The Father Christmas Parade. City of Lights will be delivering a full day of bookable workshops at the Hall for Cornwall for families on Saturday 16th November. These families will then be invited to parade their small lanterns as part of the Father Christmas Parade. To book a place on the lantern workshop see: https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/whats-on

For more details on Festive Friday and Truro’s festive events go to: www.visittruro.org.uk and follow @visittruro on Facebook and Instagram.

Jack and the Beanstalk is running from 6th December to the 31st December. 

Categories
Celebration Community Club Festival Heritage Stories History Town Hall Truro

Truro Peace Day Celebrations, 1919

Truro Peace Day Celebrations, 1919

By Daisy Roberts

Peace Day celebrations took place in Truro on the 18th and 19th of July, 1919, marking the formal end to the First World War. Although the conflict on the Western Front had ceased when the armistice was reached on 11th of November, 1918, a formal peace was not agreed until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28th of June, 1919. This official end to the war was celebrated throughout the United Kingdom. As the image shows, King George V declared that a religious thanksgiving be held throughout the British Isles and Empire on 6th of July. In Truro, a service was held in the cathedral. This was followed up by the Peace Day celebrations on the 18th and 19th. London led the celebrations. A large victory parade made its way through the city and the first cenotaph was unveiled in Whitehall. (This temporary structure was so well received that the following year it was replaced with a permanent structure).

In Truro, celebrations spanning the 18th and 19th of July, were attended by the general public, local school children and former soldiers who had served in the war. These celebrations intended to remember the lost, commemorate their sacrifices and celebrate peace. Festivities included speeches, music, food, fancy dress, sports competition, a bonfire and carnival. Events on the 18th were primarily directed at local school children. The postcard shows their attendance at a religious service, delivered from a platform erected outside what is now the Hall for Cornwall building on Boscawen Street. This was followed by sports competition in Boscawen Park in the afternoon.

On the evening of the 18th, at least 500 ex-servicemen were entertained with dinner and a smoking (men-only) concert. Both were held in what is now the Hall for Cornwall building. The Saturday celebrations, on the 19th, began with bell-ringing from both Kenwyn Church and Truro Cathedral. Stood outside of the City Hall on Boscawen Street, the Mayor then read the proclamation of peace. After which, the festivities got into full swing, the parade and adult’s sports competitions began, followed by music in the evening.

These celebrations were enjoyed by all members of the Truro community. Truro City Hall building provided the perfect centre for these festivities, both public and private. A tradition Hall for Cornwall aims to continue on the same site today and in the future.

Images courtesy of the Cornwall Records Office, with thanks to Courtney Library of the Royal Institution of Cornwall for access to local newspaper archives.