Members of the Weald Theatre Group are delighted to be presenting their 79th Annual Charity Pantomime, which, this year, is the family favourite Peter Pan. Children and adults alike are captivated by the story of how Peter, the boy who never grows old, along with the mischievous fairy Tinkerbell, take Wendy and her two brothers John and Michael and fly off on an adventure to Neverland, where they meet the lost boys, pirates, red Indians and a crocodile.

Group president Anne Skinner, a long-time member of the group who lives in the village, has been checking up on rehearsals, which include 20 children from around Sussex. She told us that the cast, from local towns and villages, are busy learning lines and song and dance routines, under the watchful gaze of their director and writer Lance Milton, who has performed as Captain Hook in past productions. Lance has been involved with the Weald since 1987, both on and off the stage, and is also the creative lighting and sound director. He has written eight pantos and directed 18. Sadly, Lance has recently been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, so this year’s show will raise funds for both Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) East Sussex branch.

This year should have marked the group’s 80th production, but 2020 was missed due to Covid. In 2021, the pandemic dealt another blow as members found that their usual home, Clair Hall, had become a vaccination centre. Luckily, they were made to feel very welcome at the recently refurbished Wivesfield Village Hall and will return there for this year’s panto.

Panto is traditionally linked with Christmas. However, The Weald Theatre Group – which relies on local volunteers – has always presented its pantos in the New Year, giving families an event to look forward to after Christmas. Performances will be at 7.30pm from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th January, with two performances on Saturday 14th at 12 noon and 5pm. Tickets, priced from £8, are available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/weald