Broxbourne Theatre Company wins local NODA pantomime award for third year running Dick Whittington Best Panto and Best Overall Show of 2007 Aladdin Best Panto of 2008 Robin Hood Best Panto of 2009 As a member of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, Broxbourne Theatre Company is part of Area 9 and competes against 22 other theatre groups in and around Broxbourne, Cuffley, Hertford, Hitchin, Letchworth, Stevenage, Royston and Ware. Together they present an estimated 30 to 40 shows each year, including pantomime, drama and musicals. This year the Area Committee has once again awarded Broxbourne Theatre Company the top panto prize for its 2009 pantomime Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, making it best NODA pantomime in the North, South, Central and East Herts area for three years in a row. Robin Hood and the Babes In The Wood had a cast of nearly 50 onstage and more than twenty working behind the scenes. The Schoolroom Scene from Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood. BROXBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD JANUARY 2009 Director: Maureen Stretch Musical Director: Julie Davies Choreographer: Joy Spriggs There is nothing like a good traditional pantomime and Broxbourne Theatre Company's Robin Hood restored my faith in tradition. This production had the benefit of exhibiting a very strong leading line up and it was a joy to be carried along fully engrossed in the story, cheering and booing whenever I had to. Carly (perfect for principal boy) was totally believable as Robin Hood, carried herself and sang as though she had been made for pantomime and Sarah (Maid Marian) sang like a professional. Tommy as Nurse Norah was expert at working his audience and the children loved him. Mark was suitably evil as the Sheriff and Scott as Herman played his silly Billy role with gusto. The babes were confident in their performance as were the children in the ballet. The U.V. insects were delightful. There was not a musical number I did not enjoy but my favorite was “This is the Moment” at the end of Act 1. Costumes were bright, colourful and well chosen. The sound was well dispersed throughout the auditorium and diction was clear. My only cause for concern was some of the cloths. From where I was sitting in mid stalls they appeared rather well worn and patched, which did not seem to match this otherwise excellent performance. I had a wonderful nostalgic step into the past. Thank you. Report by Trevor Wright Robin Hood's success follow a similar NODA Best Panto award for Aladdin in 2007/8. Dick Whittington in 2006/7 received the Best Panto award and also beat the area Best Musical and Best Drama to become Best Overall Production of the year. See more pictures from Robin Hood at www.panto.org.uk/robinhood.asp, Aladdin at www.panto.org.uk/aladdin.asp or the original Dick Whittington award below. NODA is at www.noda.org.uk and you can find the full list of Area 9 members here .   BROXBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY ALADDIN JANUARY 2008 Director & Choreographer:  Malcolm Hollow Musical Director:  Mark Smith I have long taken the view that an essential ingredient of Panto is a very early and preferably noisy contact between audience and stage. The solo opening by a threatenening Abanazar does not seem to cater for this, giving the two hard working policemen the task of injecting the first comedy onto a cold audience. It was nearly 15 minutes before Twankey and then Wishy Washy came to the rescue and took matters in hand to move things forward at a good pace. Excellent and well handled and scenery and settings, together with colourfully interesting costumes gave some very good stage pictures, and the children’s dancing team performed particularly well. Abanazer started as he finished in a thoroughly nasty fashion, Slave of the Ring was nicely off-hand, Notsoshy gave an audience friendly Wishy Washy an interesting time, the Emperor was imperiously (but not actually) in charge, Aladdin and the Princess successfully did what all Principal boys and girls do, Twanky was a highly comical and successful dominatrix, the Policemen were totally unsuccessful in crowd control and as for the Genie, well, who could resist her commands??!! Vocally, solos came over well, though non-principal pieces were less audible and sometimes lost under the orchestra. In fact more projection from those without microphones would have helped. All in all a very good evening’s entertainment after a rather slow start. Report by John Warburton Regional Councillor Dick Whittington The NODA review There were a number of quite outstanding things about this production that served to put the icing on the cake of some very good and even excellent performances. Those several things included a first class set, expertly handled to ensure smooth and swift changes. Lighting was also first rate, including a very effective undersea UV scene, and make-up, particularly of King Rat and Tommy the Cat was absolutely top rate. An excellent and energetic Dame who also gave full value to the pause, a thoroughly nasty King Rat and a cheekily likeable Idle Jack ensured audience involvement from start to finish. All of the characterisations were in tune with each other in a high standard principal line up and the whole production went along with a good pace, with just the occasional entrance and exit that was rather flat and momentarily interrupted the flow. Singing was to a good standard and all the numbers were put over very well despite some uncertainty in pitch from King Rat and Captain Sparrow. Chorus work was enthusiastic and well disciplined with plenty of energy. The M.D. kept good control, though there where one or two occasions when the pit, particularly the drummer, got the better of the stage, both in chorus and in solo work. I suspect this was as much due to control of the sound balance than anything else. The final scenes were really excellent, with the wardrobe department providing a stunning costume display representing many aspects of London, preceded by a truly wonderful costermonger dance routine by the Jason Kids. This was an excellent evening by any standards and many congratulation to all concerned. John Warburton Regional Councillor After winning the 2007, 2008 and 2009 local NODA best pantomime awards it is time to do something even bigger and better for 2010/11. Now, Broxbourne Theatre Company has been selected to present the first local stage production of this famous Disney show for all the family ... Disney's Beauty and the Beast 7-15 January 2011 Follow the link and Book Now for the best seats.