Stratford’s second ever panto hits the stage this weekend
- Connor Luczka
- Nov 20
- 2 min read
Perth County Players are set to stage Stratford’s second ever pantomime production, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, and organizers are promising it to be a family-fun show residents won’t want to miss.
“It's based on two stories, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood,” play director Tony Benton said. “We're bringing the two stories together. What sets a panto apart from any traditional plays is a couple of things. One of them is audience participation. So the audience will participate in the show. They'll boo the bad guys, cheer the good guys. … And the show itself is based on fairy tales. It's big, it's loud, it's silly and it's basically designed for both kids and adults to enjoy on different levels.”
This year marks an exciting milestone. Benton, a long-time community theatre member, has stepped into the director’s chair for the first time, bringing a fresh and lively take on this classic tale. As Benton said, the Perth County Players are a large cast and this play was selected because of that. It’s a big production with a lot of big parts.
The production also features many new faces to the Perth County Players stage, including Desmond Coles as the heroic Robin Hood and Emma Folkema as the delightfully funny Grovel. Fans will also be happy to see familiar favourites return, such as Jessica Damen as the dazzling Wilhemena Scarlett and Leasa Barclay as the ridiculous Snivel, henchman to the devious Sheriff of Nottingham.
Performances will take place on Nov. 21, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., and on Nov. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 2 p.m., all at the Stratford Intermediate School. As Benton said, a few years ago the players were unable to use the stage at Stratford City Hall and performed at the local school – a performance space which fit like a glove. It has been home to the players ever since.
Tickets range from $15 to $25 each. For tickets and more information, visit www.perthcountyplayers.com.
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