Dick Whittington

Today was panto day! Dick Whittington played by Shane Ritchie.  I haven't been to a panto in years and was really excited to have a family xmas outing. Dad got some tickets through the Fire brigade Welfare magazine and although until yesterday he could only get four, so we were in a conundrum as to whom was going to stay as we all wanted to go, dad managed to secure a 5th ticket in the same row! YAY! So off to Dartford Orchard Theatre we went. The show started at 2pm and we stopped to get some treats beforehand.

Mum and I had been talking to Henry about "the show" and are you excited, do you wanna see the show to prepare him for the panto which seemed to work.

ready for the show

We were dubious about how Henry would react but he was brilliant! He sat with mum and dad for the first part and really intensely watched all the singing and dancing going on. It was super loud and James and I were a little nervous, as it could been pretty scary at times when the "bady" King Rat came on stage. Jake was a star he was super calm all way through, drank his milk and think he was just getting too hot at one point being held (we weren't aloud to keep him i his car seat because of fire regulations) so James walked out with him, but Henry saw him walking off with Jake and got really upset so I walked Henry out. It was nice and quiet in the foyer and gave Henry a chance to let off some steam. I was quite glad he was out for the next part as I popped back in to get the change bag, it was a ship scene where the ship was being destroyed by a giant kraken. The kraken was a huge moving figure that came out into the audience and for a toddler it could have been pretty scary.

After the interval, Henry sat with us and then with mum and dad again, enjoying the whole thing and clapping at the end. Jake fell asleep in my arms for the second half and didn't seem fussed by the noise at all. Shane Ritchie was really funny and knew how to play the crowd, even James was laughing! It was really good fun and we are looking forward to more as the boys get older.

enjoying the streamers at the end of the show

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