Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

And it was a poignant return for Edinburgh People’s Theatre as the curtain went up on its festive show, Babes In The Wood, at the Churchill Theatre on Friday night. It was dedicated to the memory of its writer, John Somerville, a stalwart of the organisation, who passed away in 2021. His decades with the group saw him play everything from Shakespeare to ugly sisters.

He would have been thrilled to see the stage lit up, and the sound of laughter ringing round the former church once more.

On the cusp of its 80th anniversary in 2023 -it can trace its earliest days back to war-time in 1943 - EPT is in rude health, and has already had the ‘house full’ signs in use for its first matinee performance of a near two-week run of a panto which is not only great fun, but also the most affordable Christmas show anywhere in the capital.

Taking a bow at Babes In The wood (Pic: Cath Ruane)

In the midst of an economic crisis, it’s a chance for the whole family to enjoy a great night out at a fraction of the cost of going to any other theatre, and while tickets cost from just £10-£12, you still get every single element you’d expect from a good panto - songs, sketches, daft jokes, lots of word play, and plenty of audience participation.

The cast don’t just confine themselves to the stage either, opting instead to use the whole auditorium throughout the show as well as getting some youngsters on stage for a sing-a-long which has every on their feet.

Directed and choreographed by Mandy Black, EPT’s Babes In The Wood is a fabulous, traditional panto with everything from a from a thigh-slapping principal boy (played by Carol Bryce), two fairy godmothers who speak in rhyme (Helen Hammond/Stephanie McIntyre), dim-witted lovable rogues (Graham Bell and Alistair Brown), a nurse come large than life dame (Derek Ward) and Jack, played by Peter Morrison who keeps the audience engaged and involved throughout.

Ray Pattie and Lyzzie Bell also encourage boos aplenty as Baron and Baroness Hardup as they plot to get their hands on a fortune.

The cast of Babes In The Wood out promoting the show (Pic: Edinburgh People's Theatre)

There are great performances across the board, perhaps none more assured than from young Kai Bruce, who plays Callum, one of the two babes in the woods at the heart of the most familiar of stories.

But, with all EPT shows, there is also a cast of unsung stars behind the scenes who do everything from stage design to wardrobe to front of house duties.

The opportunity to get back to their theatrical home has been a long time coming with two successive years lost to the pandemic.

EPT has been bringing the magic of panto to the Morningside venue since 1965 - the year the Churchill opened. The shows are very much part of the city’s festive celebrations, and long may they remain so.

Babes In The Woods runs until Sunday, December 18 with evening and matinee shows. Ticket details at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ept

Edinburgh panto review: Poignant return for Edinburgh People’s Theatre with Babes In The Wood