Curdridge Amateur Drama Group 
Curdridge Reading Rooms, Curdridge 
Anne Waggott
29 November 2025
Panto season has arrived early in Curdridge, oh yes, it has! It may still only be November, but Curdridge Amateur Drama Group has brought a delightful homegrown new family pantomime to the Curdridge Reading Rooms, headed by the mother and son team of Kay and Joey Warne.
Pantomime has often been the first theatre experience for young children, an experience shared with parents, grandparents and wider family, and the first show that ignites a passion for all things thespian for future performers and production teams. It was wonderful to see that tradition continue with a packed village hall full of eager and happy punters of all ages – and they were rewarded with a pantomime that was engaging and entertaining from start to finish!
With a combination of well-known tales, Robin Hood and Babes In The Wood, writer Joey has created a script for all ages, jam packed with corny jokes, traditional pantomime phrases, and enough pop culture references to satisfy every generation. Robin Hood: Babes In The Wood focused on the main story of Robin Hood, the outlaw hero who robs from the rich to return to the poor. All the well-known characters were present, with little tweaks to a couple of characters’ gender reflecting how many amateur groups have far more ladies than men amongst their numbers; the addition of Jack and Jill as the Babes rounded off the cast.
Director Kay has ensured this is a wonderful example of how community theatre not only offers actors their first taste of treading the boards but also brings the magical world of theatre to the wider community at a fraction of the ticket price of larger theatres.
The production team may not have the budget of The Mayflower, but the entertainment level was off the scale, with lovely storybook scenery and vibrant costumes. Although lighting effects were understandably limited in such a small venue, they were well designed and executed, and the array of sound effects and music were perfectly timed, adding a marvellous extra dimension.
Of course, no matter how good the production elements, without the actors to bring the story to life, it would be all effects and no substance – but, rest assured, the performances were all highly entertaining! My apologies for any oversights with a cast that gelled together so well, presenting a cohesive, comical and compelling show.
Michael Gemmell was an absolutely charming Robin Hood and Daisy Hill an endearing Maid Marion, with a voice full of crystal clear musicality. Robin’s Merry Gang (Sarah Ebery – Little Joan, Tina Sherriff – Willamena Scarlet, Karl Kitchener – Friar Tuck, and Ben Fricker – Alan A’Dale) were such chaotic fun, each with their moments to shine, and adlibbing when needed to excellent effect – after watching ‘The Twelve Days of Cleaning’, tidy up time at nursery will never be the same again!
Every panto needs a Dame and her side-kick – and Terry Sharp (Nurse Nelly) and Kevin Warne (Much) were ideally cast, fulfilling their roles with style and panache… well, as much as a panto Dame and her stooge have style and panache! Their banter with the audience was spot on, both showing a natural aptitude for comedy.
Every panto also requires an evil entity to boo and hiss… step forward Howard Stinton as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham, with a brilliant performance perhaps more reminiscent of Blackadder and a Bill Bailey character than Alan Rickman’s, but brilliant, nonetheless. Val Hill (Bangers) and Stuart Laidlaw (Mash) brought so much joy as the Sherrif’s henchmen – surely invoking a fine for bringing tears of laughter rather than pain to the audience!
Young talent was not to be forgotten: Zara Kitchener (Jack) and Sophie Smith (Jill) were endearing and engaging as Marion’s younger brother and sister, with their plight being the focus of the Babes In The Wood aspect of the story, while a cameo performance from the extremely talented Joanna Vowles School of Dance was an unexpected delight.
But standout star of the show for me was the outstanding Lynn Dow as Hilda – her experience and expertise was on another level with a mesmerising and nuanced performance as the deliciously wicked, yet somehow sympathetic, crone. I could have watched and listened to her all day!
Overall, the panto ran at a very good pace (with only a couple of slightly awkward hesitations between scenes, and the playlist patter would have benefitted from a quicker, slicker pace in Act 2). There was an excellent rapport and interaction with the audience, particularly between Nurse Nelly and her beau for the afternoon, Paul, and getting everyone on their feet for a dance at the end was a foolproof way of ensuring a standing ovation with the bows, too!!!
CADG’s preshow publicity urged audiences to “expect silliness, laughter, song and dance as we transport you to Sherwood Forest”. That they did – and what a fabulous way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
