Puss in Boots 2019 "Sparkling production," writes John Slorance in the Hawick Paper. "It's a treat of a show that embraces the magic of panto to the full...From the principals to the chorus to the members of the ACT1 Youth group to the production team to the stage crew it's plaudits all round...starring as Puss in Boots, Shona Ferguson ...is charismatic...Ali Hill excels as Dame Dottie Drawers... Kim Jeffrey (Colin) emerges the hero of the show... with flair and style...Erin Hogg (Arnie) and aniel Drummond (Barnie) are top notch as well...Zack Mundell (Pant) and Andrew McGillivray (Spec)...buss with energy as a zany slapstick pair who create havoc...Stuart Moyes(Fairy Fifi Farquar) and Margaret Maoyes (Lady Latreena) get completely contrasting reactions... Stuart has the crowd on his side while Margaret gets booed, hissed and screamed at as the villain....Sophie Hyslop (Priness Sancha) looks like a princess and stars like one...Charlie Marshall (King Queendom, Cat Macfarlane (Queen Kingdom), Ros Mundell (Ogre), Emily Shaw (Herald), Catherine Crosby (Pat), Kathy Webber (Joe), Katy Brown (Sam, Shelley Brankin (Chris) and Jessica Graham (silent Puss) are also well to the fore in their parts...Mike Webber and Lisa Scott... are producer and assistant producer and they must be delighted with the outcome...Shelley Brankin who is choreographer for the first time...did a great job."
Snow White 2018 John Slorance writes in The Hawick Paper, " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs... is panto at its brilliant best....producer Margaret Moyes gets the very best out of the hugely talented cast. Top marks also go the way of choreographer Emma Coltman as the dance routines are of a high standard....Kim Jeffrey turns out to be areal star as Snow White....Shona Ferguson is also spot-on....and she well deserved the cheers she gets for coming to Snow White;s rescue as the heroic prince. The Seven Dwarfs ....are really a magnificent seven....they are an absolute delight...Catherine MAcfarlane attracts great boos... in her role as the Wicked Queen...Lisa Scott as Dame Victoria Sponge and Ali Hill her bungling son Muddles who gets nothing right.... spark great hilarity throughout...Ros Mundell made her presence felt as the voice of the magic mirror...Stuart Moyes (Herman the Huntsman) and Emily Shaw (Marmalade) make the most of their parts... there was also a splendid chorus."
Cinderella 2017 John Slorance writes in The Hawick Paper: "Hawick Panto Group have conjured up a magical cracker of a show...it simply has everything that a good old fashioned panto should have...Christy Anderson is an absolute delight as Cinderella...Kim Jeffrey...emerges with flying colours as she is top-notch as the dashing prince...As Buttons...Kalvin Moyes truly shines...it has three perfect baddies...Lisa Scott is superb at being the downright awful wicked stepmother while Matalan (Mike Webber) and TKMaxx (Charlie Marshal) are cut from the same cloth...Shonagh Ferguson(Dandini), Ali Hill (Baron Hardup), Stuart Moyes (Bail), Daniel Drummond (Aiff), Ros Mundell (Fairy Godmother), and Zack Mundell (Footman) also emerge tops in their principal roles...also deserving plaudits is the chorus... Emma Coltman is the show choreographer and should be absolutely thrilled with the quality of her dance routines.
Aladdin 2016 John Slorance writes "Aladdin is pantomime at its brilliant best...Thanks to the enterprising work of choreographer Emma Coltman, the dance routines are lively, colourful and of a very good standard. Musical director Drew 'Mr Piano Man' Gibb hit the top of the scales in his role. Words of praise also go to the behind the scenes team for their work including the special effects...Andrew Shields does a splendid job in this [the title] role...Sophie Hyslop is also a top performer in her portrayal of Jasmine...as the dame, Widow Twankey, Mike Webber is a real blast in being loud, outrageous and funny...Kalvin Moyes shines as the Slave of the Ring...Stuart Moyes gets it spot on as the evil Abanazar...Roslyn Mundell...puts everything into her role as Wishee Washee. The Hall loved her...Cammy Renwick emerged as a top notch Genie while Catherine Macfarlane (Nee), Ali Hill (Naw), Shonagh Ferguson (Vizier) and Kathy Webber (Sultan Ying Yang) also impressed in their roles...Under the guidance of Margaret Moyes the cast blossed in full bloom."
Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2015 John Slorance writes, "Goldilocks...has been a delight as it has everything that a traditional pantomime should...Plaudits also go the way of choreographer Emma Coltman as the dance numbers are top notch...In their first major roles, Erin Hogg (Goldilocks)and Catherine Macfarlane (Ronnie the Ringmaster) emerged with flying colours...The three bears - Lisa Scott, Kathy Webber and Charlie Marshall have been a funsome trio. Every panto has its dame and this production has a glorious one in Mike Webber (Sadie Spangle). Graham Ford has put everything into his part as circus clown Joey Whizzbang... bringing about laughs galore...Cammy Renwick and Andrew Shields emerged as panto baddies Gentleman Jack and Scary Boo - and they got their roles off to perfection...Speaking in rhyme, Shonagh McLaren cast her own magical spell performing the good fairy, Belinda.
Robin Hood 2014
John Slorance writes, "Conjuring up the slap-stick adventures of the outlaw of Sherwood Forest and his Merry Men is the talented cast of Hawick Pantomime Group. Indeed, the Teri players have fired the arrow from Robin's bow and hit the target with a spot-on production...Hero of the show is Ali Hill as Robin Hood. In his first major role, Ali is just excellent as Robin...Sophie (Hyslop) shines as Maid Marion and make a very impressive stage debut...Portraying an array of different characters (the merry men) all fit into their roles like arrows into a quiver...Cammy (Renwick)is the Sheriff of Burnfit and a real mean baddie if there ever was one...As the Sheriff's dimwitted sidekick Ged (Smith) is brilliant... Margaret Moyes and Lisa Scott give tip-top perfomances as Sir Cedric and Sir Cecil...Mike Webber brings about great laughs as Dame Euphoria and performs an excellent duet with Gerry Monaghan as Lord Knowse...Shonagh McLaren and Danni Turnbull blossom as the trees Ash and Oak while Ros Mundell is great as Friar Tuck."
Alice in Wonderland 2013
PANTOMINE audiences are in for a festive treat this year with the Hawick group’s first ever production of Alice in Wonderland, writes Sarah Williamson. Lewis Carroll’s famous story of a girl called Alice who falls down a rabbit hole has been specially written and adapted for the town hall stage by last year’s choreographer Andrew Shields – who is also bringing his vision to life with his debut in the producer’s chair. And with a cast of 16 characters and a colourful show full of song, comedy and a new twist on the popular tale, Andrew says they have worked hard since August to ensure that Hawick’s beloved panto is a hit. He told the Hawick News: “It is a really visual show, with vibrant costumes, a lot of comedy and all of the characters are quite friendly; it is a real family show. And kids will love it, there is a lot of interaction and the dances choreographed by Emma Coltman are phenomenal.” Teri Andrew says he has benefited from the guidance of seasoned pantomine pro Margaret Moyes, and received great support as he strives to produce a show that will make Christmas in Hawick extra special this year. And with the help of both old and new faces joining his cast, says he is thrilled. “Every scene is different so it’s been quite a big task, but I’ve been excited watching it and we have a whole new cast that is doing brilliantly”, he stated. “Shanice Miller is the perfect Alice, she has a lovely voice. It is one of the biggest lead female roles as she is in every scene, but she’s nailed it,” he commented. Regular Mike Webber lends his expertise to the roles of the Fairy and the Duchess, while former producer Lisa Scott plays Teridom, and popular newcomer Cammy Renwick portrays sidekick Teridee. And in another first, past producers Graham Ford and Margaret Moyes are among the cast, playing the King and Edith. Other cast members include: Tom Ford (Queen); Hannah Inglis (rabbit) Alison Elliot (Cheshire Cat); Kathy Flynn (Caterpillar); Roslyn Mundell (Mad Hatter) and Charlie Marshall (March Hare).
Diesel 2013
The Hawick Panto Group is back in town with another hilarious production, writes Rhalou Allerhand. Packed with dance routines, familiar hit songs, a few Grease classics and plenty of jokes, Diesel will undoubtedly have you singing Diesel's the Word all the way home.
Sleeping Beauty 2012
John Slorance wrote: Producer Margaret Moyes, who has been in every Hawick pantomime production in some way since the company's debut show of Babes in the Woods, knows every nook and cranny of the Panto world, and what qualities should be in a production. Margaret certainly found these qualities, for under her direction the cast delivered the goods to the full in all that they did. With choreographer Andrew Shields at the helm for the first time in a panto production, the dance numbers were vibrant and dazzling.
Jack and the Beanstalk 2011
LAUGHTER has been filling the air at the town hall this week. There has also been cheers, boos and hisses, singing, dancing, great applause and much much more. The world of pantomime and all the wonderful colour and excitement that it brings has been in town. Hawick Pantomime Group has indeed been delighting audiences with its presentation of Jack and the Beanstalk. Set in Teriland (what a great name for a place), the show is traditional panto at its best. A hero, a princess, an exuberant dame, a villain, a humorous buffoon, a fairy to put matters into rights, a set of superb characters, and even a lovable panto animal. The production has it all. Jack and the Beanstalk also has loads of audience participation, with several scenes seeing members of the cast off the stage and into the hall itself, which delights the youngsters taking in the show. There is impressive special effects and scenery as well. Producer Lisa Scott can be well pleased with the show as things have sparkled under her positive direction. Top marks, too, for choreographer Claire Inglis as the dance numbers are dazzling and very well performed. Drew ‘Mr Piano’ Gibb also plays his part by hitting the high notes as musical director. Besides all this the show is packed with great singing from an excellent chorus, very good acting, and also has a witty and funny script with contains loads of quickfire jokes.There is also a special feature, just before the interval comes to a close, with a scintillating dance routine from the Shields Performing Arts Academy. Panto regular Mike Webber is once again excellent as the dame. Playing Jack’s mother Jessie McTrott, Mike is loud, boisterous and completely over the top – just what a good dame should be. His performance is highlighted when he appears dressed in a ‘Wonder Woman’ costume for a hilarious fight scene.
Palemerk and the Hawick Ball Factory 2010
John Slorance: Well written and produced by Graham Ford, and based on the Johnny Depp film version of Charlie and the chocolate Factory, this new panto is indeed tastier than the delicious goodies you could expect to find in such a place. And making matter even more mouth-watering is that the show has a strong local flavour through its cleverly-penned storyline. Telling the story of Palemerk Bucket from Galashiels and her advertures with the Hawick Ball Factory, this year's panto has it all. A talented cast, great singing numbers, colourful dance routines, humour, quick- fire jokes, audience participation and even a nice little piece featuring the voice of the late, great Bill McLaren.