It’s Panto Time at Redcot Care Home as Residents Enjoy a Festive Performance

Residents at residential care home in Haslemere have been enjoying a wonderful, thigh slapping tradition – a festive pantomime performance of Dick Whittington.

Jan Daly, the Registered Manager at Redcot said:
“Every member of the care team at Redcot loves to make sure that all our residents have a joyful Christmas and we always thoroughly enjoy engaging with them in a wide range of yuletide activities.

“This year, to get the festive season started in a holly, jolly way, we wanted to treat our residents to a classic Christmas tradition – a pantomime performance of Dick Whittington. It was a great success; all our residents absolutely loved it.”

Staci Abernethy, Redcot’s Deputy Manager and the Redcot care team arranged for the residents to be treated to the ‘thigh slapping’ pantomime which was designed and performed by The Carousel Theatre Company. “The Carousel Theatre Company is wonderful. All the actors are seasoned professionals, many of whom have worked in the West End. The performance is created to be as visually and mentally stimulating as possible and written especially for people living in care homes or visiting day care centres, which is ideal for our residents,” said Staci.

The story of Dick Whittington is based on the English folklore tale around the real-life Richard Whittington. It tells of a poor boy who travels to London from Gloucestershire to seek his fame and fortune after being told that the streets of the City of London are paved with gold. When he arrives, he meets Tommy the Cat and together they embark on many adventures – and in true panto fashion – there’s a happy ending as Dick becomes Lord Mayor of London.

“The pantomime was great fun, with bright costumes, funny props and lots of jokes and slapstick,” added Jan. “Our residents were in full ‘Panto-Mode’ as there were lots of shouts of ‘It’s behind you’…’Oh no it’s not’, boos and cheers thoughout the performance.”

“It really was a great show,” continued Staci. “It got us all in the Christmas Spirit. The residents got totally involved and loved the gags and heckling the actors. One of the jokes that had them in fits of giggles was ‘Why does Dick Whittington have a beard? Because nine out of ten owners know their cats prefer Whiskers!’ It was wonderful to see all the residents enjoying themselves, it was a real Christmas treat for everyone.”