Dalkeith is getting a drive in panto, oh yes it is!

JUST when you might have thought trip to the panto this year was already behind you, Dalkeith Country Park is getting set to host its very first drive-in panto this winter.

Drive In panto is coming to Dalkeith

In an attempt to keep the Christmas tradition alive as theatres across the country remain dark this December, drive-in festival The Parking Lot Social will bring Cinderella, the most popular pantomime of them all, to the popular outdoor location.

Described as ‘a socially distant, uproarious live show,’ the drive-in Cinderella will boast all the essential elements that make the tale so special while including new twists to the usual format and a troupe of nine professional actors.

Each performance of the specially written show, which will feature song and dance routines, audience participation and a script that takes a light-hearted dig at some of the challenges thrown up by this strangest of years, will also be filmed live - the onstage action appearing on two 40ft screens.

John Kinnersley, Chief Operating Officer at XL Event Lab, the company behind the event, says, “After the year we’ve had it really feels like everyone could do with a bit of festive cheer. We had an incredible response to the events that we put on in the summer and the question we got asked more than any was if we could do something for Christmas.

“We waited to hear what the new regulations would bring but we’re now able to confirm that Christmas officially isn’t cancelled. We know how to put on a drive-in party more than anyone else and the line-up of events that we’ve got planned are giving us that warm Christmassy glow already.”

Tickets for the pantomime, which is part of Dalkeith Country Park’s Winter Festival, are now on sale. Performances run from 16 December until Christmas Eve.

Parking Lot Winter Festival events will take place in a Covid secure environment with audiences interacting with the shows from their own cars.

The Festival will also feature a 60ft tall rainbow-coloured Christmas tree, a giant DJing Santa Claus and the coolest Reindeer to have ever left the North Pole.

Other entertainment planned for the nine day festival include screenings of a selection of classic and modern Christmas movies for all ages with sound broadcast straight to cars and guest DJs and MCs getting the audience in the mood before the main feature.

To top it off, each night, events finish with a fantastic, festive firework finale.

All tickets must be purchased online as there will be no on-site box office. Tickets are then displayed the dashboard or scanned from phones (remotely) ensuring a completely contactless purchase and check-in procedure. Queues for the toilets and any other ‘out of car’ areas will be subject to social distancing with event staff on hand to

advise and make sure rules are being respected. Dedicated hand sanitation stations will also be located at locations around the event site.

For more information, tickets, live updates and full programme visit The Parking Lot Social website theparkinglotsocial.co.uk/christmas/

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