Morpeth Pantomime Society - Welcome to our website
We are a local amateur dramatic society in the small market town of Morpeth in Northumberland.
We welcome NEW MEMBERS and hold an open evening in September every year with news for returning members and anyone interested in joining our society.
Children are welcome to join the society and family memberships are available for children from school year 5 upwards (a parent must be present at ALL rehearsals and shows) and from school year 9 we offer a junior membership, this means that a parent is no longer required to be present at ALL rehearsals and shows but you must agree to a code of conduct before your membership is agreed.
Rehearsals are usually held on a Monday evening from 7-9pm at KEVI school and increase to Tuesday and possibly Friday rehearsals nearer to showtime. The weekend before show week is usually full of dress rehearsals and commitment to the society is of paramount importance for everyone involved. The Sunday following show week is you will be expected to be present to help clear up. We are a society of like minded people and everyone is expected to pitch in.
You will not be allowed to audition for shows unless your membership is active, please ensure if you want to audition that you have paid your subs and that all outstanding paperwork is up to date.
The Morpeth Pantomime Society was originally founded in 1979 by Christine Barron together with parents of some of the pupils who attended a local ballet school. It was formed as a family society and this is still at the heart of the values of the society today.
A lot of hard work and enthusiasm produced the first pantomime 'Red Riding Hood' in January 1980. From three year olds to teenagers there was a lot of acting talent in the dancing school. Dads and Mums were persuaded (cajoled might be a more appropriate word) to fill in the necessary adult roles, such as Dame, Village Idiot or Villain. Also among the parents were found dressmakers, electricians, joiners capable of building stage sets, sound engineers and make-up know how. Morpeth now had its very own Pantomime.
After several years of Pantomimes and summer fundraising the Society decided to stage a Summer Show. Initially this took the form of a light-hearted Review or Old Time Music Hall.It wasn't long before the Committee decided the Society should attempt a Musical and in 1998 'Half a Sixpence' was performed at the King Edward VI school to great success both in production terms and in raising funds. In the following years summer shows included 'Anything Goes', 'Calamity Jane' and ' 'Allo, 'Allo '.
In 2023 Snow White marked the 43rd Pantomime performed by the society at KEVI School and was an incredible success with sell out audiences. In those forty three years (We missed one year due to covid) a few hundred current and former members have enjoyed (well most of the time) giving many hours of their own time and effort to the productions.
Each annual panto has been attended by an average of 900+ people, add to that the attendances at Summer Shows and we can say that our total audience to date is in the region of 35,000 people, of all ages from toddlers to Grandparents and beyond. It is well worth remembering that a local pantomime is often a young child's first introduction to live stage performances.
One outstanding achievement of the MPS is the social side of the organisation. The pulling together in the final weeks of rehearsal, the adrenalin rush during the week of the show, the get togethers at Quiz Nights, Karaokes, Discos, BBQs and Treasure Hunts have all played their part in cementing many lasting friendships
We welcome NEW MEMBERS and hold an open evening in September every year with news for returning members and anyone interested in joining our society.
Children are welcome to join the society and family memberships are available for children from school year 5 upwards (a parent must be present at ALL rehearsals and shows) and from school year 9 we offer a junior membership, this means that a parent is no longer required to be present at ALL rehearsals and shows but you must agree to a code of conduct before your membership is agreed.
Rehearsals are usually held on a Monday evening from 7-9pm at KEVI school and increase to Tuesday and possibly Friday rehearsals nearer to showtime. The weekend before show week is usually full of dress rehearsals and commitment to the society is of paramount importance for everyone involved. The Sunday following show week is you will be expected to be present to help clear up. We are a society of like minded people and everyone is expected to pitch in.
You will not be allowed to audition for shows unless your membership is active, please ensure if you want to audition that you have paid your subs and that all outstanding paperwork is up to date.
The Morpeth Pantomime Society was originally founded in 1979 by Christine Barron together with parents of some of the pupils who attended a local ballet school. It was formed as a family society and this is still at the heart of the values of the society today.
A lot of hard work and enthusiasm produced the first pantomime 'Red Riding Hood' in January 1980. From three year olds to teenagers there was a lot of acting talent in the dancing school. Dads and Mums were persuaded (cajoled might be a more appropriate word) to fill in the necessary adult roles, such as Dame, Village Idiot or Villain. Also among the parents were found dressmakers, electricians, joiners capable of building stage sets, sound engineers and make-up know how. Morpeth now had its very own Pantomime.
After several years of Pantomimes and summer fundraising the Society decided to stage a Summer Show. Initially this took the form of a light-hearted Review or Old Time Music Hall.It wasn't long before the Committee decided the Society should attempt a Musical and in 1998 'Half a Sixpence' was performed at the King Edward VI school to great success both in production terms and in raising funds. In the following years summer shows included 'Anything Goes', 'Calamity Jane' and ' 'Allo, 'Allo '.
In 2023 Snow White marked the 43rd Pantomime performed by the society at KEVI School and was an incredible success with sell out audiences. In those forty three years (We missed one year due to covid) a few hundred current and former members have enjoyed (well most of the time) giving many hours of their own time and effort to the productions.
Each annual panto has been attended by an average of 900+ people, add to that the attendances at Summer Shows and we can say that our total audience to date is in the region of 35,000 people, of all ages from toddlers to Grandparents and beyond. It is well worth remembering that a local pantomime is often a young child's first introduction to live stage performances.
One outstanding achievement of the MPS is the social side of the organisation. The pulling together in the final weeks of rehearsal, the adrenalin rush during the week of the show, the get togethers at Quiz Nights, Karaokes, Discos, BBQs and Treasure Hunts have all played their part in cementing many lasting friendships
History of the Society - Previous Shows
1980 Red Riding Hood
1981 Mother Goose
1982 Ali Baba & the 40 thieves
1983 Puss in the Boots
1984 Cinderella
1985 Aladdin
1986 Jack & the Beanstalk
1987 Dick Whittington
1988 Snow White
1989 Robinson Crusoe
1990 Wizard of Oz
1991 Sleeping Beauty
1992 Frankenstein
1993 Sinbad the sailor
1994 Pinocchio
1995 Mother Goose
1996 Cinderella
1997 Beauty & the Beast
1998 Aladdin
1999 The Lambton Worm
2000 Jack & the (millennium) Beanstalk
2001 Robinson Crusoe
2002 Red Riding Hood
2003 Hickory Dickory Dock
2004 Sleeping Beauty
2005 Treasure Island
2006 Puss in Boots
2007 Cinderella
2008 Mother Goose
2009 Aladdin
2010 Babes in the Wood
2011 Goldilocks and the three bears
2012 Dick Whittington
2013 Hansel and Gretel
2014 The Lambton Worm - The Pantomime
2015 Peter Pan the Pantomime
2016 Beauty and the Beast
2017 Cinderella in Pantoland
2018 The New Adventures of Alice
2019 Red Riding Hood
2020 Jack and the Beanstalk
2021 Covid Restrictions prevented annual show
2022 Puss in Boots
2023 Snow White
1981 Mother Goose
1982 Ali Baba & the 40 thieves
1983 Puss in the Boots
1984 Cinderella
1985 Aladdin
1986 Jack & the Beanstalk
1987 Dick Whittington
1988 Snow White
1989 Robinson Crusoe
1990 Wizard of Oz
1991 Sleeping Beauty
1992 Frankenstein
1993 Sinbad the sailor
1994 Pinocchio
1995 Mother Goose
1996 Cinderella
1997 Beauty & the Beast
1998 Aladdin
1999 The Lambton Worm
2000 Jack & the (millennium) Beanstalk
2001 Robinson Crusoe
2002 Red Riding Hood
2003 Hickory Dickory Dock
2004 Sleeping Beauty
2005 Treasure Island
2006 Puss in Boots
2007 Cinderella
2008 Mother Goose
2009 Aladdin
2010 Babes in the Wood
2011 Goldilocks and the three bears
2012 Dick Whittington
2013 Hansel and Gretel
2014 The Lambton Worm - The Pantomime
2015 Peter Pan the Pantomime
2016 Beauty and the Beast
2017 Cinderella in Pantoland
2018 The New Adventures of Alice
2019 Red Riding Hood
2020 Jack and the Beanstalk
2021 Covid Restrictions prevented annual show
2022 Puss in Boots
2023 Snow White