Babes in the Wood, at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. Cannon and Ball starred as the Good and Bad Robbers.
Friday 21st December 1990 – Saturday 16th February 1991.
Cast in order of appearance
Fairy – Sarah Dangerfield
Robin Hood – Jonathan Kiley
Sheriff of Nottingham – Maurice Thorogood
Friar Tuck – Ian Sandy
Maid Marion – Bernadette Nolan
Nurse Tickle – Christopher Biggins
Sammy, Lucy – The Babes – Tom Howse / Jade Holdham / Kelly Jacobs / Christopher Galton
Bad Robber – Tommy Cannon
Good Robber – Bobby Ball
Little John – Tom Perrin
Merry Men – The Halfwits
King Richard – Tom Hardy
Citizens of Nottingham – Katie Austen, Kim Buckpitt, Bobbie Burden, Rosalind Hartley, Mandy Hearnden, Amanda Lacey, Carrie Leigh, Marie O’Mahoney, Alan Cullaney, Simon Embleton, Igal Morelli, Anthony Wiltshire
Juveniles – Julia Chittenden School of Dance
Victoria Bailey, Emily Barton, Lisa Bellinger, Charlene Crow, Victoria Digby, Philippa Drew, Erica Emm, Kellie James, Laura Jenking-Rees, Sarah Love, Abigail Lee, Sarah Mansbridge, Alison McFarlane, Emily Mitchell, Gemma Murdoch, Shireen Shadmand, Lucy Sneddon, Katy Williams, Lucy White, Laura Vane
Director – Peter Walker
Choreographer – Libby Roberts
Musical Director – Duncan Waugh
Lighting by – Graham McLusky
Orchestra
Musical Director – Duncan Waugh
Keyboards – Rick Coates
1st Trumpet – Tim Warren
2nd Trumpet – Ian McKenzie
Trombone – Steve Hayes
Tenor / Clarinet / Flute – Eddie Robinson
Guitar – Steve Grimes
Bass Guitar – Harvey Smith
Drums – Perry Clayton
Percussion – Sebastian Guard
Act One
Prologue
Scene 1 – The Town Square
Scene 2 – Somewhere in Sherwood Forest
Scene 3 – The Village School
Scene 4 – The Road to Nottingham
Scene 5 – The Nursery
Scene 6 – A Clearing in the Forest
Scene 7 – The Babes’ Dream
Act Two
Scene 1 – Nottingham Fair
Scene 2 – Another Part of the Forest
Scene 3 – The Heart of the Forest
Scene 4 – The Sheriff’s Basement
Scene 5 – Outside the City Walls
Scene 6 – The Dungeons of Nottingham Castle
Scene 7 – Songsheet
Scene 8 – The Reception at King Richard’s Court
Souvenir Programme
Cannon and Ball
To describe Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball as stars is at the very least an understatement. To describe them as superstars and a true phenomenon is perhaps more accurate.
Since their debut TV series for London Weekend Television in 1979 they have not only become top TV stars with their own television series and specials every year, but they are – without doubt – the biggest box office attraction in the UK.
To have not only sold out all other comedy acts, but to have outdrawn even rock superstar Bruce Springsteen, is a totally unique achievement which puts them in a category all of their own.
In the summer of 85 their ten-week run at the Opera House, Blackpool, smashed all previous records by playing to over 300,000 people and grossing over one million pounds. Results in 1986 were the same when they played a season at the Bournemouth International Centre. Booking for their 1986/87 pantomime flooded in and Babes in the Wood at the Alhambra theatre was yet another success with the record books once again having to be re-written.
Cannon and Ball’s star status is further enhanced by the fact that they are the only act in showbusiness to have won three seperate National Club Awards; they have enjoyed success as recoding artistes with both singles and albums; starred in their own feature film ‘The Boys In Blue’; triumphed in numerous popularity polls and have also been named Showbusiness Personalities of the Year by the Variety Club of Great Britain, the highest accolade that can be bestowed by fellow professionals.
So what is the secret of this unequalled success which has included Royal Shows, a memorable appearance on This Is Your Life and their top-rated Christmas Spectaculars? It is without question a success which has evolved from an initial friendship between two Oldham lads who got together to form a singing act.
Bobby (Robert Harper) and Tommy (Thomas Derbyshire) were former workmates at an Oldham engineering factory in the 1960’s. By day they were welders, but at night they became the Harper Brothers, a singing duo, which achieved a great deal of popularity in the Northern clubs.
It soon became evident that Bobby had a natural flair for comedy and this was complemented by Tommy’s ability to remain straight-faced; acting as the perfect foil. Singing remained part of their act, but the comedy content grew stronger as did their popularity.
“It got to the point where we were rehearsing our act on the factory floor”, says Tommy. “Many were the times that we were reprimanded by the foreman! Then out of the blue, Wally Harper, Bobby’s cousin and a professional comic, booked us for a week at a club in Wales. The response was terrific. After that we decided to give up our daytime jobs and concentrate on showbusiness.
Since then their career of over twenty years is showbusiness history – their series and specials are always in the top TV ratings and they play to capacity audiences not just in the UK, but even in Australia and the Middle East.
“We have no pretensions”, says Tommy, “We’re a couple of ordinary blokes doing what we do best – entertaining people and making them laugh. We love it. The important thing is that we haven’t changed in our attitudes. We’re still Bobby and Tommy to everyone and still get a kick every time someone shouts ‘Rock on Tommy’ in the street”.
In their increasingly rare off-stage moments, both Tommy and Bobby like to keep fit, whilst Bobby also enjoys the solitude of the riverbank, angaging in his favourite pastime, fishing. Bobby has also published his series of childrens books. Tommy prefers to divide his time between playing golf, following football and the his race horses.
1987 was just as busy as ever for Cannon and Ball. Following the finish of their pantomime in Bradford at the end of February, Tommy and Bobby took a well earned holiday and then straight into a spring tour from mid-April until the end of June. Their summer season at Blackpool Opera House commenced mid July until the end of October – another marathon record breaking fourteen week season.
The Guinness Book of Records had to be re-written yet again when Cannon and Ball took their pantomime ‘Babes in the Wood’ for the 1987/8 Christmas season to the most famous variety theatre in the world – The London Palladium. During its breathtaking £2 million run another record was created, when during one week ticket sales contributed to the biggest box office gross in the history of the British theatre.
The London Palladium embraces true stars and makes them feel at home, and the London Palladium certainly became a second home to Tommy and Bobby; where, in addition to their pantomime season, from the same stage they recorded their TV Christmas special; appeared with Jimmy Tarbuck as his guest stars in LWT’s Live from the Palladium series, and appeared in the Royal Variety Show before Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
Touring, television and summer season in Paignton occupied most of 1988, and Christmas 1988 found Tommy and Bobby on home ground, taking Babes in the Wood to the Palace Theatre in Manchester, where yet again all pantomime box office records were broken.
A completely new venture took off during spring 1989, when Cannon and Ball starred in the comedy play ‘You’ll Do For Me’ which was directed by Brian Rix and toured throughout Britain. Summer ’89 was spent in Scarborough with Sunday concerts being held across the Pennines where they starred at the Opera House in Blackpool.
Following summer season they recorded for Yorkshire Television and during October and November undertook an extensive cabaret tour. Last Christmas they appeared in ‘Babes in the Wood’ at the Birmingham Hippodrome. This year they have recorded more shows for Yorkshire Television, followed by summer season at Great Yarmouth and further recent cabaret appearances.
Christopher Biggins
It is a true testimony to his skills as an actor that Christopher was for some years best known to the public in general as a big brand of villain. For his is among the most loved personalities in the profession, as series such as On Safari and Surprise Surprise prove.
However, his appearance as Emperer Nero in I Claudius set the pattern for his sinister small-screen persona. No sooner had he established the blood-lusting Roman Fiddler than he was offered the part of the Reverend Ossie Whitworth, the wicked vicar in the hugely popular Poldark series.
His training started at the Salisbury Repertory Theatre and later at the Bristol Old Vic as a prelude to his first West End appearance, creating the character of Head Jumbly in The Owl and The Pussycat Went to Sea.
Television followed and his instantly memorable face began to be recognised for such diverse appearances in Paul Temple, The Likely Lads, The Ronnie Barker Series, Man of Straw, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Showstring, Kidnapped, The Bronte Connection, Infidelities, and he played the part of Lukewarm in Porridge.
During this time he also managed a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company including the London Assurance production with Donald Sinden and Judi Dench. Other theatre work includes national tours of Side By Side By Sondheim, Beyond the Fringe, A Touch of Spring and more recently Cluedo and On Approval.
He is a firm favourite in such programmes as Blankety Blank, Give Us A Clue and Jackanory.
He is also a fine and sensitive director; this began with an ambition staging of Anouilhs The Orchestra in London. For three seasons he has been a guest director at Regents Park, and also played a balletic Puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Christopher has directed three musicals for the London festival: Puddling Lane, the first production of The Gospels According To Captain Beaky written by Jeremy Lloyd, and the highly acclaimed Narnia, which won rave reviews in New York.
Meanwhile his films show an equally vivid diversity from Eskime Nell to Applause with Lauren Bacall: from The Rock Horror Show to Derek Jarmans The Tempest in which he played Stephano. This crowded and busy schedule was crowned by a trip to Hollywood to take part in the most expensive film ever made for television, Masada. More recently Christopher has appeared in A School For Scandal at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, played the part of Nahtan Detroit in Guys And Dolls and starred in the television series Dramarama in a show called L for Arnold.
Earlier this year Christopher was chosen once again to appear in the Childrens Royal Variety Performance produced by the BBC and attended by HRH Princess Margaret. Central Televisions Woof is another childrens programme in which he has been featured during the year. In addition he has been presenting his daily game show entitled Wife Of The Week.
During the summer Christopher played and sang the part of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at Londons Barbican Theatre.
Maurice Thorogood
Maurice enjoyed a career as a television editor prior to a three year training course at RADA, where as an honours graduate he won the Ronson award as well as the Winifred Oughton Character Work prize. Initially he worked as an actor and director in childrens theatre, followed by appearances at the Ludlow Festival, the Palace Theatre Westcliff, the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, and Leeds Playhouse.
Film and television work includes Julius Caesar playing Strato, The Bitch opposite Joan Collins, The Jigsaw Man with Michael Caine, Chance In A Million, Up The Elephant And Round The Castle; for Thames television Target, Grandad, Triangle, Rent A Ghost; for BBC Television Maggie and Her; for LWT Susan George Naturally, an MME/VCL special and SHH for silent movie productions.
Maurice appeared in the national tour of The Rivals, and My Giddy Aunt, in which he played at the Gaiety Theatre Isle of Man opposite Molly Sugden. He completed a most successful 1988/89 pantomime season at the Alhambra Theatre Bradford appearing with The Krankies in Dick Whittington playing the part of King Rat.
Maurice appeared with John Inman in Pyjama Tops at the Opera House Jersey and the Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne, and was delighted to be invited to work with him again to play the part of Roger in the successful 1989 tour of Bedside Manners. For the 1989/90 Christmas season Maurice played the part of Sherriff in Babes In The Wood with Cannon and Ball at the Hippodrome Theatre Brimingham, followed by Maurice playing the part of Harry Blythe in The Cat And The Canary with Jimmy Cricket at the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke.
He went on to work on a childrens television series called Uncle Jack for BBC Television and then recorded an episode of the new series of Shelley for Thames Television. During the summer Maourice toured in the successful farce Run For Your Wife, playing the part of Sgt Toughton. He is delighted to be working with Cannon and Ball again this Christmas.
Bernadette Nolan
Bernadette is the second youngest and lead singer with The Nolans, and has been performing on stage since she was two years old. She was born in Dublin but left there at the age of 1 and has lived in England ever since.
With her sisters, she has enjoyed phenomenal success, both in this country and abroad. It began in the UK with all six girls, appearing on every major television show possible, including The Royal Variety Show, the girls were given four specials of their own; something they had always wanted to do.
The Nolans record successes have included an amazing number of hit singles and albums, culminating in over twenty gold, silver and platinum disks.
Their greatest successes, however, were in Japan, where record sales reached over nine million (exceeding The Beatles). They were also the first ever European act to win the Tokyo Music Festival, where competition included Rany Crawford and Jermaine Jackson.
One of Bernies favourite countries is Australia, where the girls have toured extensively and once again enjoyed record success with hit singles including two No. 1s and albums such as Altogether for which they received a double platinum disc.
Probably the greatest thrill of Bernies career so far was doing a European tour with Frank Sinatra, where she was able to take her dad, an avid Sinatra fan, backstage to meet the man himself.
In May of 1988, Bernie was asked to co-present a new weekly Saturday morning show On The Waterfront which was a great success, and her first solo venture. Although she is still part of the Nolans as a group, Bernie couldn’t resist the opportunity to do her first pantomime at the end of 1988, at the Manchester Palace Theatre, and the following year she appeared for the first time with the Birmingham Hippodrome.
The Nolans have just completed a one-nighter tour followed by a summer season at Great Yarmouth both with Cannon and Ball. Now there is a television advertised album in the pipeline for 1991 for The Nolans and more solo ventures for Bernie on television. Bernie is thrilled to be crowning her busy year with another wonderful pantomime.
The Halfwits
Andrew Rothwell
Roger Robinson
Richie White
Duncan Fisher
Duncan M. Laird
The Halfwits are recognised as one of the fastest, funniest comedy acrobatic acts in the world of entertainment. They have just returned from a very successful season in America and will be returning there when the pantomime season is over. They have toured extensively, playing in such places as the London Palladium and The Sporting Club in Monte Carlo (where His Serene Highness Prince Rainer is a great fan!) They are very popular in Japan and Italy adores them after many television appearances,. They spend most of their working lives in France, Spain and other countries on the continent.
The members of The Halfwits come from varies walks of life:-
Andy Rothwell is an accomplished and highly trained dancer and was persuaded by Johnny Hutch to try comedy acrobatics. His Granny performance speaks for itself!
Roger Robinson is from Yorkshire and is an outstanding acrobat, comic and trampoline specialist.
Richie White and Duncan Fisher are both renowned trampoline performancers and highly trained acrobats and tumblers.
Duncan M. Laird from Scotland was a member of the Scottish athletics team with whom he toured the world until he turned professional four years ago.
The characters and comedy routines are devised and presented by Johnny Hutch, with music by Jac Jay of Paris and Pat Dodd of the London Palladium.
Jonathan Kiley
Jonathan trained at the Arts Educational School in London and made an early start to his career on Yorkshire TV children’s programmes. His first West End show was Peter Pan at the London Coliseum. He played Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in no less than six productions, and also directed a tour of the show. He also played Jesus in two productions of Godspell, Danny in Grease and Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore at Nottingham Playhouse where he appeared in many productions including The Boyfriend, Mack and Mabel, The Matchmaker, Hamlet, Coriolanus, Mother Courage and The Gondoliers. The classics include Pistol in Henry V, Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bergetto in Tis Pity She’s A Whore and Whitwould in The Way of the World.
Jonathan toured Britain and North America in Elvis the Musical has appeared in pantomime in London and all over the country every Christmas for the past 17 years. 1986 and 1987 were spent playing Frank ‘n’ Furter in the national tour of The Rocky Horror Show, breaking at Christmas to Direct and appear in Babes in the Wood with Les Dawson in Birmingham and Southampton respectively.
Last year Jonathan played Dr Tony Grimsdyke in a tour of a new farce Doctor on the Boil, then spent six months playing Frank in a european tour of The Rocky Horror Show. Having directed and appeared in Cinderalle at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford last year, Jonathan looks forward to returning to Southampton this season in a new production of Babes in the Wood. Before coming to Southampton, Jonathan has already been involved in Pantomime this season having just directed a production of Babes in the Wood at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.
Ian Sandy
Ian Sandy attended Birmingham Theatre School before spending six years at The Old Birmingham Repertory Theatre. His theatre credits began at The Old Repertory Theatre, Birmingham in performances such as Bonaventure, Kidnapped at Christmas, Macbeth and After Magritte. His career has also had a particular focus on children’s productions.
Ian completed many cabarets and summer seasons between 1984 and 1989 most of these being in holiday camps at Skegness and Filey.
He is perhaps better known through Television and Radio for his performances in productions such as Voxpops with Tom O’Connor for BBC Television, Putting on The Ritz, Small World, Golden Oldie Picture Show, Lucky Sunhil and LWT’s Game For a Laugh and also for his many voice overs on both Television, Radio and on film.
Tim Perrin
Tim was a policeman in Sussex and London for nine years before going on to train as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
His parts have included Willy Nilly and Cherry Owen in Under Milkwood, Kav in the Willy Russell Comedy Stags and Hens, he spent most of 1989 playing Aslan and the Professor in the national tour of The Lion, The With and The Wardrobe and The Magicians Nephew. He has been in pantomime in Wolverhampton and last year in Bath.
1990 found Tim in Ireland where he played Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in conjunction with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. This was followed by Autumn at The Dukes Playhouse, Lancaster, playing Dad in Trafford Tanzi.
Tim enjoys many sports, particularly swimming and is a qualified lifesaver. When all else fails he can be found lifeguarding in his hometown of Eastbourne.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is of Irish/Welsh parentage and was born in Manchester. He trained at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and his appearances have varied from playing the dumb blond Cynthia opposite the late Hylda Baker to dancing in the Vennusberg ballet in Tannhauser at Covent Garden. His most recent West End engagement was at the Vaudeville Theatre appearing with Michael Gambon, Jonathan Pryce and Greta Scacchi in the highly acclaimed production of Uncle Vanya. Other West End credits include Harvey with James Stewart;The King and I with Peter Wyngarde; The High Bid with Eartha Kitt and Meeting at Night with Wilfred Hyde-White.
Television appearances include The Bill, The Benny Hill Show, George and Mildred, the Naked Civil Servant and The Good Old Days.
Tours include Whoops A Daisy with Brian Murphy and George Sewell, A Christmas Carol with Alan Browning, and Salad Days. He also enjoyed a season in Vienna appearing in Wait Until Dark with Catherine Schell.
This year Tom has directed three plays and appeared in the leading role of a new play at London’s fringe Red Lion Theatre.
In past pantomime productions Tom has appeared with Terry Scott, June Whitfield, Anne Charleston (Madge from Neighbours), Kenneth Connor, Honor Blackman and Tony Blackburn. He is very pleased to be invited back to rejoin the cast of last year’s hit production of Babes In the Wood.
Sarah Dangerfield
Born in Yorkshire, Sarah trained at the Royal Academy of Dancing for four years followed by two years at the Royal Ballet School. She then joined a ballet company in Germany for three years where her work included Gigi, Oklahoma, La Boutique Fantastique and Romeo & Juliet.
Television work includes Lorraine in Plaza Patrol with Cannon & Ball, Bob’s Your Uncle with Bob Monkhouse, Judith in All Creatures Great and Small, Ivy in First of The Summer Wine, Linda Norton in Coronation Street, Julie in Bluebell and Sonia in Cat’s Eyes.
Last Christmas Sarah played The Fairy in Babes in The Wood at Birmingham, the previous year she played the title role of Dick Whittington in Essex and previously appeared at The Mayflower Theatre as The Fairy in Babes in The Wood. She is currently recording voice-overs for a cartoon series.
The Julia Chittenden School of Dancing
Pupils from the school have appeared regularly at The Mayflower Theatre in ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Copelia with English National Ballet, The Dream and Hobson’s Choice with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and also in many shows including Evita. Their pantomime appearances include seasons of Babes in The Wood with Les Dawson, Cinderella with Paul Nicholas and Jack and the Beanstalk with Russ Abbot.
They are very much looking forward to doing this years production of Babes in The Wood.
Peter Walker
Peter has worked for the National Theatre on several very successful productions, including Jumpers, Tales From Vienna Woods, Equus when it transferred to the Albery Theatre, Julius Caesar, Double Dealer, Fruits of Enlightenment, The Provok’d Wife and The Rivals.
Peters directing credits include the first national tour of Annie, On Your Toes at the Palace Theatre, London, My Fair Lady for the Opera House, Manchester, withLiz Robertson and Denis Quilley, the highly acclaimed Gala Performance of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene at the Palace Theatre and Iolanthe for the New D’Oyly Carte Company.
Peter was the Production Director on The Rocky Horror Show for two years in London and Production Supervisor for Chess at the Prince Edward Theatre.
Peter directed Babes in The Wood at the Hippodrome, Birmingham and Pirates of Penzance at the London Palladium.
Peter is delighted to be directing Babes in The Wood once again.
Libby Roberts
Sky-By-Day’s shining star Libby is now on her third series presenting keep-fit and aerobics.
A qualified teacher of RSA standard as well as being one of the country’s leading choreographers. She has to her credit such first rate shows as The Benny Hill Specials, Jim Davidson Specials, a two year contract as choreographer/hostess on Yorkshire Television’s 3-2-1 with Ted Rogers and a year’s contract for Channel 4 on The Unforgettable series.
Libby has choreographed several pantomimes starring Cannon & Ball at various including the London Palladium and various videos and commercials for Meatloaf, Russ Abbot and a host of star performers and top personalities, plus movies Whoops Apocalypse and The Fruit Machine starring Robbie Coltrane.
More recently Libby has choreographed the summer season at the Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, and Pride of the Clyde at The Kings Theatre, Glasgow.
Duncan Waugh
Duncan has been Musical Director and toured with many artistes, including Rose-Marie, Joe Longthorne, Les Dennis, Danny La Rue, Tony Christie and Little & Large. Previous pantomimes have seen him in Stockport with John Inman, Wolverhampton with John Inman and Jimmy Cricket, Nottingham with Les Dennis, Plymouth with Ruth Madoc and John Nettles, and last year in Sunderland with Les Dawson. Duncan has previously worked the Cannon & Ball in Summer Season and on tour. This year has been particularly varied and Duncan has found himself working with Shirley Bassey, playing for the recent Ken Dodd season at the London Palladium and playing in a tent in the middle of the jungle in Belize!
Graham McLusky
Graham trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1974 studying theatre lighting and stage management. Engagements at the Royal Theatre and Opera House, Northampton, the Redgrave, Farnham, the Theatre Royal, Lincoln and the Harrogate Theatre saw the start of his career. This now encompasses the lighting of over 200 shows for repertory, touring and fringe theatre, covering a wide variety of comedy, thriller, tragedy and musical productions and of course the annual pantomimes – last year these included Babes in The Wood starring Cannon & Ball at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Aladdin starring Cilla Black at the Wimbledon Theatre and It’s Magic starring Paul Daniels at the Savoy Theatre, London. In 1988 he lit the highly successful production of Pride and Prejudice starring Leslie Phillips on it’s UK tour and last year he lit the tour of Catherine Cookson’s Fifteen Streets. Graham also designed the lighting for the current West End hit musical Buddy which has recently opened on Broadway.
Paul Elliott
Paul Elliott is a prolific producer with over 300 UK touring productions and 55 overseas productions to his credit. In London, Paul has produced or co-produced 26 productions including the musicals Hello Dolly with Carol Channing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Grease at the New London Theatre with Richard Gere and Beatlemania at the Astoria Theatre and the plays Passion Play at the Wyndhams Theatre, Big Bad Mouse at the Prince of Wales and Underground with Raymond Burr. Paul was associated with London’s longest running farce Run For Your Wife for eight years. His latest project is the smash hit musical Buddy which is currently raising the roof at the Victoria Palace, London and the Shubert Theatre, Broadway.
Paul’s touring productions have included the highly acclaimed Children of a Lesser God, Catherine Cookson’s The Fifteen Streets and Paul Nicholas and Bonnie Langford in a new version of The Pirates of Penzance.
Paul is England’s premier Pantomime producer. He enjoys more than anything else, spending time with his wife Linda, 2 year old daughter Laura Jane and son Simon.
Stuart Littlewood and Laurie Mansfield
Laurie Mansfield and Stuart Littlewood are the joint Managing Directors of International Artistes and of Handshake Limited who are the co-producers of this pantomime. From their offices in London and Manchester they represent many of the leading attractions in the world of television and theatre and have presented Cannon & Ball on tours, in Summer Seasons and pantomimes throughout the UK, including this particular production of Babes in The Wood which started life at the London Palladium three years ago.
For more than twenty years they have been friends and business partners and, together with Paul Elliott, they are part of the production team which has created the musical Buddy which is currently “rocking them in the aisles” in London, New York and Sydney.
They both admit to “getting a kick” out of pantomimes and are extremely optimistic about its future as family entertainment and hope you will have as much fun watching the show as they have had in producing it for you.