The King’s Theatre Edinburgh is working with the Arts Programme at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children to deliver ‘Panto Presents’, a new project to bring the magic of pantomime to children and families in the hospital over the festive period.
Throughout December and January, staff from the Learning & Participation team at the King’s, along with actors and crew from the King’s panto will be visiting the Sick Kids hospital to deliver workshops, have a cast meet and greet and give out tickets to see this year’s show, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Catrin Sheridan and Lisa Hannah Thompson from the Festival Theatre bring a mini pantomime performance of Snow White to a ward of the Sick Kids Hospital – pictured left to right are Catrin, Elita McFarlane (10), Lewis Robb (6), Lisa and Alanna Jack (7 months) Pic Greg Macvean 07971 826 457
To get the project started, staff at the hospital were given ‘Panto Presents’ boxes, jam-packed with panto related props and activities for each ward to play with and explore the story of Snow White in special play workshops. Storytelling sessions and an exhibition of the artwork will take the show to the hospital, and children and families that are able to leave the hospital on day release will be invited to see a performance of the panto at the King’s.
Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “The Sick Kids Friends Foundation cannot thank the Festival Theatres enough for bringing Panto Presents to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) in Edinburgh. The resources contained within the boxes are amazing – each box is filled with craft materials, stickers and story books which are used daily by children on the wards.
“We’re really looking forward to the workshops, storytelling and of course the cast visit planned for the coming weeks and I know these experiences will bring lots of Christmas cheer to the hospital. It’s fantastic when organisations like the Festival Theatres get involved in our vital Arts Programme as we continue to transform the hospital experience for children and young people, ensuring they are a child first and a patient second.”
Catrin Sheridan, Learning & Participation Coordinator for the King’s and Festival Theatres, said: ‘It is a real pleasure to be working with Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation on Panto Presents. We are delighted to provide unique and exciting activities for the children in the hospital, particularly to those who might not get a chance to see our pantomime at the King’s this Christmas. The staff, the children and their families have been so supportive of the project and we are really looking forward to providing a few ‘Pantotastic’ experiences along with some perfectly preposterous play …hopefully to make someone’s day. ’
‘Panto Presents’ will run over three years initially, with a view to it becoming a permanent fixture in the Education and Outreach programme of the Festival and King’s Theatres.
The King’s Theatre pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, continues until Sunday 17 January 2016. For more information: www.edtheatres.com/snowwhite
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