Treasure Island

Yo Ho Ho! Listen ‘ere me ‘earties! Productive Twyford Drama do not allow the dust to settle beneath their feet. Whilst still  in the throes of performing their contrasting October One Acts, members are busy preparing for the launch of their annual January pantomime extravaganza.

Beth and Pete Reynolds, the group’s  talented and experienced 2024 pantomime directors,  are setting sail for ‘Treasure Island’ this Christmas and New Year. Twyford Drama would like you all to jump aboard with them and dare to join the villainous Long John Silver on the high seas (well, in this case, the high stage of Loddon Hall, Twyford) by booking your tickets for the adventure -   you will enjoy  a veritable treasure trove of panto treats and the accustomed hilarity on the way.
This year’s pantomime delight is Ben Crocker’s  witty and original ‘Treasure Island’. The nautical masterpiece combines a comical riot of piratical hi jinks, flying custard pies, suspenseful chases, ferocious fights and of course…a never-to-be-forgotten hair-raising haunted grotto.

Brimming with a host of panto novelties, this is a happy, uplifting highly modified adaptation  of Robert Louis-Stevenson’s original fairytale; it  will certainly commence the New Year with a strong  feel-good feeling of traditional family fun and laughter.

Updates from the Directors...

"It is definitely panto time again and our Twyford Drama’s ‘Treasure Island’ rehearsals are progressing well. Director Peter Reynolds and Producer Beth Reynolds are delighted with developments on and off stage  and are really confident we shall have a wonderful show for our audiences. 

Publicity for the event  is progressing well. We have a wonderful bright, eye-catching poster this year. It has been produced by our producer Beth Reynold’s daughter, Rachel, and can already  be seen adorning noticeboards, lampposts and railings all over Twyford! 

Panto rehearsals are in full swing. Scenes have now been carefully blocked. Our actors are beginning to get to grips with their dialogue, and the chorus have been enthusiastically and patiently learning their songs and dances.   Our choreographer has worked very hard to shape the dances and we are having plenty of fun with piecing them together.

Costumes and scenery are also progressing well, with backdrops being skilfully painted and costumes expertly created. 

It is so easy to get carried away with focusing only on the stage activity and forget about all our other important members,  who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our productions possible: our stage manager, who is reliably co- ordinating our weekly set build sessions; our props creator, who is cleverly constructing cutlasses and other nautical accessories; our talented seamstresses, who are designing and manufacturing unique colourful costumes; and our attentive sound technician, who is creating those magical sound effects which enhance the stage action and stimulate laughter!These are just a few of our back stage heroes . 

That is indeed the story of our pantomime to date - dedicated people coming together for a common purpose, producing entertainment for their community and beyond, and having loads of fun simultaneously."