Panto time at Leamington’s Spa Centre is almost here

Once again, the Coventry-based Imagine Theatre has produced the show. The company’s wardrobe mistress Dawn Othwaite has been hard at work putting the final touches to the sparkling costumes to be used this year.

She said: “We have quite a few production meetings about each pantomime throughout the year in which we discuss the overall design of the show, of which the costumes are an important part.

“We have to make sure the costumes complement the set as well as the actors that will be wearing them. Each actor has to supply their measurements so we can make sure the costumes are roughly the correct size for them and then once the show is in rehearsal the wardrobe mistress for that show will make any minor alterations necessary to ensure they fit perfectly.”

The company has more than 20,000 costumes in its stores and some 400 different costume pieces are used for each pantomime it produces.

This year Imagine is producing nine pantomimes throughout the UK - which means the wardrobe department are currently working on up to 3,500 costume items for their own productions as well as those that are being hired out to other producers and theatres.

Dawn said: “Most of the costumes we use come from our vast collection and, as we get towards the start of the season, we also put in a lot of work cleaning and making any necessary repairs. Each year we make on average about 15 new costumes as well as some of the costume basics such as aprons and breeches.

“Snow White is a visually beautiful show and we have some wonderful costumes. I think my favourites have to be the ones for the dwarfs as Mike Coltman Construction have made some fabulous dwarf heads for us which are absolutely brilliant and help to bring out the individual characteristics of each dwarf.”

Tickets to the show, which opens next Friday (December 7) and runs until Monday December 31, cost from £6.50. To book and to find out show times, call 334418 or go online.