Putting on panto brings theatres back to life

Two theatres are celebrating the joy of pantomime, after suffering a tumultuous period over the last few years.

For its first panto in three years, The Core Theatre in Solihull is hosting Aladdin, while Artrix in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire is putting on Treasure Island.

The Core was forced to close in September 2023 after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), and Artrix closed after the previous owners filed for voluntary liquidation in 2020.

"Panto here is really important, it's become part of families' traditions here in Solihull," said Alison McGrory, assistant director of communities and partnerships at Solihull Council.

"All we wanted to do was get back here and put panto back in Solihull… everybody in that time just went above and beyond, and the passion is what got it back open.

The site opened again in May, but it was actually the closure that directly connects it to Artrix in the bordering county.

When The Core shut, it looked for an empty building to operate out of - and found the Artrix.

Artrix had, of course, shut in 2020 during the pandemic, so was the perfect site - not too far away - for The Core to make it its temporary home.

"The passion for panto kept going in the year that we weren't open, everybody worked so hard," said Ms McGrory.

It was the revival of the arts at the site that made people from Bromsgrove want to re-open the theatre when the Solihull team moved out.

Local people came together to create a group called Bromsgrove Community Arts, and rented the building from the council.

Opening again in April 2024, it is completely volunteer-led.

"The passion that we get from all of the volunteers, the community, is absolutely amazing," said Suzanne Lane, director and producer of the pantomime.

"It's just going from strength to strength... we're full all year long [next year] and already about a third full for 2027."

She said the panto was "the bread and butter of the business."

"The revenue that we get from December pretty much equals the rest of the year altogether."

Next year's panto, Rapunzel, is already selling tickets.

Sarah Lake Wynen, who plays Squire Trelawney in the Bromsgrove panto, said it meant the world that local actors could get jobs where they lived.

"I am just so happy that we have been able to come back and that arts works, and actors, after weathering a very difficult period, have been able to work their way back," she said.

Morgan Philpott, who plays Widow Twanky in Solihull, said The Core was the "lifeblood" of the community.

"The fact that the panto is back here and at the Artrix is so good, because it supports the theatre so much," he said.

"We have to look after these places."

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