Categories
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
Christmas Christmas show Community Pantomime Projects Schools & Colleges

Rich Pickings for Fashion Students: Falmouth University and Hall for Cornwall Partnership

Photography: Hugh Hastings

A talented group of fashion students from Falmouth University got a career boost last week when they teamed up with our giant Christmas Panto for a piece of career-defining work!

Our homegrown production unit Cornwall Playhouse Productions is teaming up with Falmouth University for this year’s Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. The collaboration sees University involvement in multiple areas with Fashion and Textiles Institute students playing a key role in creating the flamboyant Dame’s (played by Kernow King, Edward Rowe) costume for the show’s grand finale.  

Our Get Creative team challenged seventy Costume Design for Film and Television students, inviting them to create a Kernow-inspired, show-stopping costume for Dame Trott. Ten finalists were selected, with second-year student Tabby Winchester’s striking design chosen: “I really wanted to emphasise Cornish influences in the design to make sure the Dame has a strong local flavour – hopefully audiences will enjoy spotting them when the dress is revealed. Designing the dress is a great opportunity, and working with classmates on the dress fabrication is putting our skills to the test: this dress needs to wow the audience AND stand up to the rigours of forty performances.” 

Julien Boast, HfC CEO and creative director: “I’m so pleased to be sharing news of this partnership. We’re dedicated to working closely with Falmouth University as we look to deliver creative dynamism and prosperity to Cornwall. We simply wouldn’t be able to mount such an ambitious production without this partnership.” 

Emma Hunt, Vice Chancellor of Falmouth University: “Seeing the creative work of our students on stage, as Dame Trott struts her stuff, is going to be one of my festive highlights. Not only will Ttheir imaginative and clever creations will no doubt delight the crowd., I am very proud of this partnership between two of Cornwall’s biggest cultural institutions, which are putting creative skills at the heart of the county’s growth and community resilience.” 

Second-year student Florence Kenny’s design elements will also feature in the final costume, adding an additional Cornish flourish: “It’s going to be a big emotional moment for us to see Edward Rowe on stage in the dress and cape, especially as the show will be building up to the big reveal. It will be hard not to get caught up in the moment when we see it and hear everyone’s reactions. The Hall for Cornwall is an amazing place and I have volunteered in the costume department before working on other people’s designs, so to actually make a piece to be on the stage will mark a really nice progression for me.” 

Both Tabby and Florence will be invited to attend a dress rehearsal to see their creations come to life on stage and will be credited in the Jack and the Beanstalk programme. 

Director of Jack and the Beanstalk, Joyce Branagh: “It’s really exciting to have the students on board and having that injection of young energy and humour to give us a little blast of Cornwall in that finale moment. We’re very excited about it!”

The project provided  students with the opportunity to experience the real-world process of theatre costume design. They were tasked with balancing both artistic expression and practical considerations – including quick costume changes, scale, and how the outfit would be viewed by audiences from different perspectives. The collaboration gives the students a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of designing for the stage. The magic of the on-stage reveal is in celebration of both talent and the strong collaborative relationship between the creative arts in Cornwall.  

 

Photography by Hugh Hastings

Categories
Christmas Christmas show Community Pantomime Projects

Jagga on Tour: Cornwall Airport Newquay Announced as Panto Partner

Hall for Cornwall has announced Cornwall Airport Newquay as a new partner in the run up to the theatre’s giant 2024 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Our very own Cornwall Playhouse Production, produced in association with Falmouth University and starring Kernow King Edward Rowe, is expected to be seen by over 35,000 people this December. The show features the character of Jagga, Jack’s beloved cow, who, in celebration of the partnership and in the spirit of pantomime fun, was unveiled at Cornwall Airport Newquay before later visiting Callestick Farm to meet the herd and farm mascot, Callie.  

At Cornwall Airport Newquay, Jagga made her way through check-in and baggage reclaim before heading up to the control tower and watching the planes land! 

At the home of Cornwall’s beloved ice cream parlour, Callestick Farm, Jagga became part of the herd and met Callie the Callestick Cow mascot, who will be staying at the Hall for Cornwall Greenroom Café over the festive season. 

Photography by Hugh Hastings

 

Categories
Christmas Cornish Roots Creative Heritage Events Uncategorised

Could you join us in our Hall of Dame? 

Could you join us in our Hall of Dame? 

Inspired by our dive into damehood, where Edward Rowe will feature this year as Dame Trott in our Pantomime, Jack and The Beanstalk, we’re on the hunt for more Cornish Dames! 

Are you a star in your local pantomime? Do you don a frock to tread the boards in this festive tradition? If you or someone you know takes on this fabulous role, we’d love to hear from you!

Our team are excited to celebrate dames from all corners of Kernow. Successful applicants will have photographs taken in all your finery, backstage at HFC, and take your place in our Hall of Dame!

Fill out our short form below, to tell us more about your Dame – let us know if you need to apply in an alternative format.

Whilst we know all Cornish dames are utterly fabulous, we may not be able to invite you all to take part – there simply wouldn’t be enough space backstage for all that sass! We will be in touch after the closing date to let you know more about what happens next!

We can’t wait to hear from you. Deadline – Sunday 27th October.

Complete the form

Categories
Christmas Uncategorised

WE’VE ANNOUNCED THE CAST FOR OUR PETER PAN CHRISTMAS SHOW!

Is it ever too early for Christmas chat? ☃️ Not for us! We’re flying high with excitement as we reveal the cast for this year’s festive show, Peter Pan!?

Directed once again by acclaimed UK writer and theatre director Steve Marmion, Cornwall flies to Neverland as local actors Edward Rowe, Ollie McFarlane and Colin Leggo join a skilled set of actors with an array of accomplishments, from stand-up comedy and musical stardom to appearances on the big screen.

“Our mission is all about connecting Cornwall, and what better story than Peter Pan to do that. This is a story we all grew up with, it reminds us of the utter joy of childhood and the thrill of escaping into an adventure that stays with you for a lifetime. We’ve even given a Cornish twist to this much-loved story, so there’s something for everyone on this magical trip to Neverland, whether they’re young or young at heart.” 

– Julien Boast, CEO and Creative Director of Hall for Cornwall

Edward Rowe returns to the Cornwall Playhouse stage after a celebrated run as Long John Silver in last year’s Christmas show, Treasure Island. This year, he plays another fearsome but loveable role as the infamous Captain Hook! Edward is a writer, actor and comedian, performing professionally under the name of Kernow King. Audiences will recognise him from the BAFTA-winning film Bait, Fisherman’s Friends The Musical, and TV roles in Alex Rider, The Witcher, House of the Dragon, Strike and Beyond Paradise. Edward has written, produced and starred in Trevithick!, Hireth, The Cornwall Coliseum, and The Cornish Caretakers, and his recent short Cornish language film, Mab Hudel (Magical Son) was a local favourite. Edward is also a co-writer of BBC Radio 4’s sketch show Wasson Cornwall, where he appears opposite Dawn French.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Cornwall Playhouse this Christmas.” He said. “Captain Hook is one of my favourite villains onscreen and of course in literature, so playing him this December is a bit of a dream come true.”

The Hall for Cornwall team looked all over the UK for the lead role of Peter Pan and found him right under their noses. Ollie McFarlane makes his debut at Hall for Cornwall, starring in the lead role of Peter. He grew up in Tanzania in East Africa before moving to the West country in 2010, graduating Falmouth University in 2019. Ollie has worked with a host of Cornish companies and artists including like Kneehigh, Wildworks, Golden Tree, Yskynna, Prodigal UPG, The Arc, Swashbuckling Cornwall, and of course, Hall for Cornwall. Ollie has toured nationally with Companies like Saltmine, Subtext Theatre and Oddments, taking theatre to prisons, council estates, and other disadvantaged communities.

“I’m delighted to see AMATA graduate Ollie McFarlane take a leading role in Hall for Cornwall’s festive production of Peter Pan. As a Falmouth Alum, he is a huge credit to the creative sector in the South West and it’s wonderful to see his career going from strength to strength. I look forward to seeing him sparkle this Christmas.”

– Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Falmouth University Prof. Emma Hunt

Taking up the role of Captain Hook’s right-hand man, Smee is local actor Colin Leggo.

He headlined the 2021 BBC Upload Festival and has performed at Edinburgh Fringe multiple times. ‘Leggoland’, his 2015 one-man with one-leg show about becoming a below knee amputee, received critical acclaim, including a 5-star review from the British Comedy Guide. In 2019, he won the title of UK Pun Champion, and his joke book, Jokes for the Punderdog, reached Amazon’s 2019 list of ‘Top 10 bestselling Joke and Wordplay Books’.

Joining these three Cornish actors are:

  • Dan Ball as Mr Darling (The Undeclared War, BBC’s Doc Martin and Beyond Paradise, plus many pantomimes including Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Beauty and the Beast). Most recently Dan has been filming for new feature film The Salt Path with Gillian Anderson, an adaptation of the best-selling book by Raynor Winn. 
  • Kelise Gordon Harrison as Tiger Lily. She graduated from Alra North and Rose Bruford Wigan before making her professional theatre debut in A Midsummer Nights Dream with theatre company Not Too Tame. Since then, she has toured with the Theatre Company Wrongsemble in The Not So Big Bad Wolf as Little Red, and appeared in ITV’s Waco Untold: British Tragedy as Vanessa Henry. 
  • Jade Lauren as a self-assured Wendy. Jade performed in Rent at the Shaw Theatre before graduating from the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. She has since worked on a variety of productions across the UK and Spain., including Bill Russell’s revival of ‘Elegies for Angel, Punks and Raging Queens’ at the Kings Head theatre, and Barcelona’s premier of ‘Next to Normal immersive’, directed by Simon Pittman. 
  • Sara Markland as a fairy-godmother style Tinker Bell (Casualty, Doctors, Down to Earth and Jonathan Creek). She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she won the Chesterton Award for Best Actress. Her theatre credits include productions in the West End, RSC, RNT, Royal Court, in repertory across the country, and touring shows nationally and internationally. Recently, Sara has been concentrating on her voiceover and audio drama career alongside teaching drama and running a community choir. 
  • Lucy Park as Mrs Darling. Lucy is an actor, singer and musician born and raised in South Korea, where she worked as a professional singer before moving to London to study acting. She graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with an MA in Musical Theatre in 2018 and has starred on stage in Play AI, Come From Away (West End), and Tokyo Rose (Southwark Playhouse, UK Tour), to name a few.
  • Olivia Warren as Nana (La Maupin, The Unauthorised Breaking Bad Parody Musical, Estella UK Tour, Say my Name!). Olivia is an actor, musician and voiceover artist who trained at Rose Bruford College. Her experience includes an array of musicals, children’s theatre, short films and virtual reality experiences. As a voiceover artist, Olivia has worked with the likes of Netflix, CBBC, Legoland, Audi, and Williams Racing. 

When Sara was offered the role, she said: ‘I am thrilled to be making my return to the stage as Tinker Bell at the Hall for Cornwall this Christmas in a piece and place both dear to my heart.’

You can find out more about Peter Pan and purchase tickets here.

“Peter Pan” is presented by arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Concord Theatricals Ltd. On behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk.

 

Categories
Christmas Theatre Truro

TREASURE ISLAND HAILED ‘A MASTERPIECE’: THE REVIEWS ARE IN!

Arrgghh ye’ ready to see what the critics think?

Our brand new Christmas show Treasure Island opened it’s doors on Thursday 1st December, and since then it’s been filling seats with children, parents and grandparents all eager to shout ‘he’s behind you!’

From the second that audiences filed in from the cold, jittering with anticipation, they were immersed in the world of Treasure Island. On one side, our Green Room Cafè had transformed into a treasure-filled tropical island with parrots, palms and plenty of booty…while our Playhouse Bar had turned into a pirate ship!

Once they’d filled up on festive hot chocolates, spicy nachos and warming Christmassy cocktails, audiences entered the auditorium, ready for the adventure of a lifetime…

So, what did they think? See for yourself!

From newspapers and critics to you, our lovely audience members, here’s some of our favourite reviews from the first week of opening…

‘The whole production was a masterpiece, and it was ‘ansome!’

The Packet Newspapers

‘M-arrrrr-vellous… a brilliantly Cornish production.’

Cornwall 365

‘It’ll make you proud to live in Cornwall.’

Cornwall Live

‘Entertained the small kids and the big kids, and on being asked what was the best bit; all of it, came the reply.’

Audience Member, Facebook

‘So joyful!’

Audience Member, Instagram

‘We couldn’t stop laughing the whole way through, absolutely wacky and bonkers in the best way possible and perfect for all the family.’

_stephbythesea_ on Instagram

‘Everyone put their heart and soul into it. Kernow King as Long John Silver was amazing!’

Audience Member, Facebook

 ‘A festive, feel-good evening, definitely a lasting memory made❤️’

gingerfamilylife on Instagram

Our cast and crew have been beaming all week at this overwhelmingly positive response. This is why we love what we do, because it brings a smile to so many faces when they need it most.

So put on your Captain’s hat and join in the fun this Christmas!

Grab your tickets and get ready to set sail for a swashbuckling show…