After 20 performances the curtain fell on this years Alternative Pantomime A LADD IN at the Sallis Benney Theatre last Thursday night (February 2).
Starring Dave Lynn, Jason Sutton, Davina Sparkle, Allan Jay, Jason Lee, Sally Vate, Christopher Howard and Lola Lasagne, the panto, written by Andrew Stark and directed and staged by Quintin Young, received excellent media reviews.
This years production of A Ladd In was staged by the organisers and performers of the Alternative Pantomime, in partnership with the University of Brighton, Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) and Gscene Magazine.
This new partnership brings together LGBT+ students and academics at the University of Brighton with the city’s diverse LGBT+ communities, through use of the theatre facility, to help foster and develop the production of the Alternative Pantomime as a positive addition to the University of Brighton event and programming strategy.
This ground braking affiliation seeks to engage university students in the wide range of issues highlighted through the work of GScene Magazine and the Brighton & Hove LGBT CSF, as well as Brighton University’s work with the awarding winning Count Me In research project, further work in LGBT+ research, and LGBT+ educational and community activity at the University of Brighton.
A final total of £3,814.07 was raised from bucket collections at the end of each performance and proceeds from the sale of programmes and advertising inside, goes to the work of the B&H LGBT CSF, an established independent LGBT+ forum of eight elected, unpaid volunteers working with the LGBT+ communities to address and improve safety and access issues throughout Brighton & Hove.
The Alternative Pantomime was organised and developed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the University Theatre and Gallery, in recognition of the University’s Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity protocols.
Safeguarding policies were developed and delivered by LGBT CSF, enabling the University of Brighton to be a recognised partner, that could be proud of hosting this iconic LGBT+ event.
Next years Pantomime will be Jack and his BIG Stalk.
Photos by Graham Hobson aka Captain Cockroach