In Christmas, Swindon, Family


By Theresa Hopwood

A cold, grey December evening calls for something special to brighten it up, and Mr H and I found just that in Swindon on Tuesday evening.

Arriving late afternoon we were just in time to have a browse around Swindon’s compact Christmas Market, located in the middle of the main shopping streets. Wooden chalets offer a variety of gift ideas and treats, and the smell from the sausage chalet were extremely tempting. The town’s attractive seasonal decorations and variety of shops make it a great place to do some Christmas shopping, particularly when combined with a visit to the Swindon Designer Outlet.

Shopping was not our main reason for visiting on this occasion, however, the pantomime was calling!  Our children now being rather too old to take along to boo and hiss at villains, we took along Paddington Bear, currently on holiday in Wiltshire!

The Wyvern Theatre, close to the town centre is a venue we have enjoyed visiting on many occasions to see some of their varied productions, but this was our first pantomime there. It is a really well designed theatre where we have always had a good view of the stage, with easy access and great facilities. The Great British café in the foyer is a great place to eat and is also open for drinks in the interval.

The pantomime this year is Dick Whittington, starring Nigel Havers as King Rat. Whilst featuring all the family favourites, booing, hissing, sing-alongs and a few surprises, noisily and excitedly appreciated by the children in the audience, there is also plenty to keep the adults entertained, with double entendres, current affair references, Swindon relevant jokes, and a nod to Nigel Havers’ previous roles! Not to mention a contemporary image for Tommy Jones the Cat… you will have to go along to find out more! The set and young ensemble were glittering in all ways, and provided the perfect backing to some memorable performances from the main cast. Nigel Havers, as you would expect, commanded attention, but I was also really impressed by Lewis Barnshaw, as Simple Simon, and definitely not forgetting Barnaby Hughes as Tommy Jones. The little girl sitting next to me ensured I joined in with all singing, shouting and booing, but in reality I didn’t need much encouragement, you can’t help but get caught up in the infectious atmosphere of a very excited audience.

I can certainly confirm that grey and cold evening was brightened up by our visit to Swindon and Mr H and I are now full of Christmas cheer!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Related

Wyvern Theatre
Theatre
Wyvern Theatre

The Wyvern Theatre offers a mixed programme of concerts, comedy, dance, drama, musical theatre and local amateur productions. The theatre was opened by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip in September 1971.

8 Comments

Comments

  1. Sasaki
    One of my best moves was to order a coursework online. I was having trouble with a challenging task and had no idea where to look for assistance. I came into a website that provided coursework writing assistance. I made the decision to attempt it after finding coursework writing service https://essayshark.com/coursework-writing-service.html . That was a simple and uncomplicated process. I filled out a form with my specifications and preferences, and within a few hours, I had a list of authors that could work on my project who were available. When the assignment was finished, I was quite happy with the work's quality
  2. Jimmie Jacobs
    As might be expected, Nigel Havers held the audience's attention https://freegamesonline.io, but I was just as pleased with Lewis Barnshaw as Simple Simon and Barnaby Hughes as Tommy Jones.
  3. Topexamhelp
    With the abundance of exam help services available, there's no need to face exams alone. Online tutoring, study guides, practice tests, exam preparation courses, study communities, and subject-specific resources can provide the support you need to excel in your exams. By leveraging these https://topexamhelp.com services, you can boost your knowledge, improve your study techniques, and approach your exams with confidence. Remember, success is within your reach, and these resources are here to guide you along the way.
  4. Duncan Jones
    This site has some of the best tower defense games that you can play for free. Some of the most popular games on this site include Tower Defense https://tower-defense.co .
  6. Get Your Exam Done
    "Christmas Comes to Swindon" is a heartwarming celebration that brings the town joy and community spirit. For students, it provides a festive atmosphere in which to unwind, spend time with loved ones, and recharge their energy for the upcoming challenges of the new year. It's a time for students to experience the magic of the season and make lasting memories.

    https://getyourexamdone.com/
  7. My Law Tutor
    Christmas Comes to Swindon is a lovely seasonal story that flawlessly blends warmth and legal intrigue. As a holiday gift, I'm giving this to my law tutor because it nicely combines the spirit of the season with the complexity of legal narratives.

    https://mylawtutor.net/

Leave a Reply