Thurso pantomime gets going with an old fairy tale embracing modern technology

Thurso Players has the first run of its latest pantomime tonight with most in-house seats sold already but livestreams still available.

The Groat was invited to a dress rehearsal of Rumplestiltskin last night and the colourful production's wardrobe department deserves a hearty applause itself for the stunning array of costumes.

The story of Rumplestiltskin, by author Gareth Preston, will have audiences in stitches and is a bold choice by the Players considering most audiences have been brought up with Dick Whittington, Red Riding Hood, Aladdin, Snow White and other more familiar fairy tales.

The story concerns a girl called Elizabeth who is ordered by a mean king to spin straw into gold or she will be executed the next day. A goblin called Rumplestiltskin comes to help but as the girl is ordered to make more and more gold the mischievous imp demands more and more items in return from Elizabeth including her first born child. Can Elizabeth and her true love, Prince Frederick, outwit the goblin and find a happy end or will the poor girl lose her head? You'll just have to go and see.

Producer Sara Donaldson said that the cast and crew enjoyed rehearsing back in the Mill Theatre and worked hard "to bring the magic back to Thurso".

"Despite rehearsing around Covid restrictions, with a reduced cast, and with the panto being held at the Mill Theatre instead of the usual High School venue, we've produced a brilliant family show and have utilised some new technology at the same time," she added.

The "new technology" includes a central video screen that takes the audience outside of the confines of the theatre and also mock-ups of smartphones showing TikTok videos at either side of the stage. One hilarious episode has AI Willie (Willie Mackay) chasing the cow-llama to carry out an artificial insemination while he plays his spoons.

There are strict Covid rules in place that includes mask wearing and breaks in which audiences are asked to leave the auditorium and the exit doors of the theatre space are opened to refresh the area. The production with cast and crew has been honed down to allow for Covid restrictions too.

Sara is a Players stalwart having numerous productions under her belt and talked about the staging of Rumplestiltskin. "As producer I draw everything together to make sure it all runs smoothly. This year's not been very difficult as Kane [the director] has been so good. He's had a vision in his head for this for a year or so."

Kane Cameron, director and this year's villain in the production said: "I've had a lot of help with this. Jacqui Disbury is our assistant director, so when I'm on stage she's my eyes off stage. The matinee performance will have Rumplestiltskin played by Rachael Haddlesey so if there's any scene that I need to sit back and watch she goes on stage for me."

Kane directed his first production, Robin Hood, a few years ago in Thurso High School when he was only 22-years-old and says he likes to put his own marks on the shows by "bringing them up to date and adding local references".

This year's panto tickets have been sold online as well as at McBeath's Jeweller, and opening night and the Saturday matinee are now sold out, with all other dates having very few seats left. But this doesn't mean audience members can't join in the fun as Thurso Players have livestreams happening on Thursday 9th at 7pm and for the matinee on Saturday 11th at 2pm. You can grab your favourite snacks and watch from the comfort of your own home as there are plenty of allocations left, and at £5 a head are a bargain.

Rumplestiltskin starts tonight (Wed 8th) and runs in the evening at 7pm on Friday 10th and Friday 17th along with Saturday 18th December. There is a 2pm matinee show on Saturday 11th December at the Mill Theatre too.

More information on tickets and livestream performances can be found at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/thurso/mill-theatre/rumplestiltskin/e-zrebqy

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