Promenade Productions - 40 years on!

15th February 1984, saw the birth of a Gloucestershire tradition and an anniversary celebration in 2024.

With the exception of the ‘covid years’, Promenade Productions have brought fun and laughter to the people of Gloucestershire each winter with a traditional family pantomime.

The first panto, Sing a Song of Sixpence was in 1986, with ticket prices in those far off days costing £2.00 to £3.00! In their anniversary year, Sleeping Beauty played to full houses, continuing the sell-out productions of last year’s Cinderella and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The society continues to flourish with some of the original members still involved, even if not quite as active as they once were 40 years ago! John Pannett has, throughout the society’s existence, been chairman – a position he combined with a variety of different roles from producing and directing, to his inimitable creation of pantomime dame.

There is however no shortage of up and coming talent. The choice of shows reflect this. Pantomime, still with the battle between good and bad, can only be kept alive with current and local references. We are now seeing the third generation of the same family!

Apart from the excitement when the curtain rises on a new production and the months of rehearsals pay-off, there comes the feeling of being part of a team, a family. Promenade Productions have always fostered this feeling, offering support when members find themselves dealing with unexpected situations. It’s not all about being ‘on stage’.

Over the years, Promenade Productions have won a number of awards from NODA and the Gloucestershire Theatre Association.

Continuing the celebrations of this milestone in the society’s history and recreating some nostalgic memories of the first musical Oklahoma! a barn dance was held attended by many old friends.

And in July, the curtain will rise on the summer musical, High School Musical.

Steve Meekums

(Above) Josephine Llewellyn as ANNA in first production of The King and I (1996) and (below) her daughter and granddaughter (Julia and Alice Glaudot ) in the current panto production. Credit: Steve Meekums