SUNBEAMS BRING HISTORY TO LIFE AT ALHAMBRA THEATRE PANTO PINOCCHIO!
The Alhambra Theatre’s pantomime, PINOCCHIO, opened in December to packed houses and will run until 19 January in Bradford. Panto legend, Billy Pearce, leads the star-studded line-up of the festive spectacular as Geppetto, alongside Coronation Street star Chris Gascoyne as the evil Stromboli; and Drag Superstar Courtney Act as the Blue Faerie. They are joined by panto veteran Steve Arnott (Dame Rita), Ewan Goddard (in the titular role of Pinocchio), West Yorkshire local Sarah Pearson (Phyllis The Fox), Leeds-born Monique Ashe-Palmer (Kitty The Cat), and Nicholas McLean (Jiminy Cricket).
As well as this fabulous line-up, the Alhambra Theatre panto also features the Sunbeams provided by Sara Packham Theatre School in Keighley.
Francis Laidler, who built the Alhambra Theatre 110 years ago, was known as the King of Panto and for half a century, he delivered panto after panto in his Bradford venues, as well as venues in Leeds, Keighley, Manchester, Bristol and London. Laidler started the charming tradition of using Sunbeams in his pantomimes in 1917 at the Prince’s Theatre in Bradford, which he was also running at the time. This first pantomime including the Sunbeams was Robin Hood starring Lily Vine, Winnie Goodwin, Fred Walmsley, May Sherrard and Adrian Ross. He even toured his Sunbeam troupes into Theatre Royal Leeds (which he also ran having taken over the lease in 1909). Then in 1930/31 the Sunbeams came to the Alhambra Theatre, when Laidler switched his pantos to this venue.
Sara Packham comments
“It is our 19th year of providing the legendary Sunbeams and we feel privileged to perform once again alongside Billy Pearce who is our school patron and a constant inspiration to our students.
Our school continues to thrive and grow. Many of our students have progressed to full-time training or associate programmes, gaining places at the Royal Ballet School, Tring Park, Moorland Ballet Academy, The Hammond, Renaissance Arts Conservatoire, Bird College, Central School of Ballet and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.”
Sophie Marie Talbot, a former Sunbeam who furthered her training at Renaissance Arts Conservatoire in Leeds, is now teaching at Sara Packham Theatre School. She is also a member of the ensemble in this year’s Pinocchio. Sophie’s performance credits include Ensemble and first cover for Cinderella in Cinderella and Ensemble and first cover for Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Alhambra Theatre.
Sophie says:
“Performing at the Alhambra Theatre is a dream come true. It’s my local theatre, and I’ve been watching shows here since I was young. Being back for my third Crossroads pantomime is such a privilege. The Alhambra Theatre will always hold a special place in my heart, and I feel so lucky to be part of its magic
As a Sunbeam in Aladdin in 2013/14, I admired the ensemble dancers and dreamed of being like them one day. Now, being part of the ensemble feels so special. I’ve loved every panto I’ve done here, but a standout memory will always be the giant gorilla in Aladdin and the fun I had with my dance friends. The Sunbeams work so hard both on stage and off, and it’s amazing to see their dedication. Working with the students from Sara Packham Theatre School is also a joy. They’re respectful, talented, and a credit to the school.”
The Sunbeams, who used to be all girls with matching bobbed haircuts, were an instant hit with audiences. All recruited locally, they added high spirits to the Laidler pantos, often joining in with comic capers on stage. Laidler selected the Sunbeams from open auditions, and each girl had to meet strict height criteria and be “in perfect health, with evidence of six months regular school attendance”. He considered their welfare of paramount importance.
Mrs Minnie Baxter wrote to tell us about her “life as a Sunbeam in 1936” and said: “I’m sure everyone will remember the advert that used to be in the Telegraph and Argus every year early September – Sunbeams wanted, must be over 12 years, under 4 foot 3 inches, girls only. A man was at the stage door with a measure so that did eliminate quite a few.”
The Sunbeams who performed in venues outside of Bradford lived in a boarding house with an “aunty” or house mother to look after them, although parents were allowed to come every Sunday for a visit. The girls had a private teacher, but all their work had to go back to their school when they got home after the panto run. As well as free accommodation, food and pocket money, an amount was paid weekly into each girl's Post Office savings account and the book was handed to the girl's parents at the end of the pantomime's run. As Mrs Baxter recalled they were given “clothing (a uniform of sorts) including a green outdoor coat with a cap to match, a Sunday dress, and school clothes and a red check cotton rehearsal dress.”
Laidler said at the time: "The Sunbeams appearing in my last season's pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Leeds, attended my Leeds school with regular punctuality; in fact, with almost full attendance. The Sunbeams in my Bradford pantomime attended their own schools in Bradford." Laidler added that during school term time the Sunbeams did not appear at every matinee, but only at one matinee a week plus the Saturday matinee.
In 2012, former Sunbeam Mrs Jane Wood visited the Alhambra Theatre to watch the pantomime and meet the Sunbeams performing that year. Mrs Wood recalled at that time she queued for hours to audition, aged 12, in the 1920s. She said Laidler ran a tight ship: “We were well cared for but he wouldn’t stand for any nonsense. There was no talking in the wings, and we had to be out of the theatre by 10pm. We had our hair cut the same length, some of us played boys. Mr Laidler measured me for my costumes. They were lovely, my favourite was a headdress made of feathers and a pair of trousers with one leg shorter than the other.”
PINOCCHIO is produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the same team behind the annual Alhambra Theatre pantomime for over 20 years. PINOCCHIO is directed by Ed Curtis, returning for his 13th Alhambra Theatre pantomime. As well as the talented cast, ground-breaking special effects once again take centre-stage, created by The Twins FX who have been delivering these visual treats to Alhambra Theatre audiences over the past 9 years.
PINOCCHIO is now open and closes on Sunday 19 January 2025 - it has all the fun, laughter, magic, and special effects that audiences have come to expect from the Alhambra Theatre pantomime each festive season. Don’t miss Bradford’s ultimate festive treat and book your tickets now!
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