Panto Day 2024: Family at The Varieties
With the theme of Panto Day 2024 being the #YearofFamily, we sat down with our Learning and Engagement team to reflect on the beautiful home of our annual pantomime, City Varieties Music Hall, and our collective memories of family at the venue.
Written by our Learning and Engagement team (edited by Sophie Ashley)
Sarah Winstanley
What does ‘family’ mean to you when thinking about The Varieties?
The Varieties is the perfect family venue. Nothing feels like such a full circle moment than this being the first theatre I went to when I moved to Leeds. My parents brought me here when showing me around the city, due to our shared passion for theatre.
Then I got a job at Leeds Heritage Theatres, so I now get to explore the theatres every day and celebrate them with my family too. For example, my mum, sister-in-law and I took my niece on her first trip to Leeds Grand Theatre last year to see The Nutcracker. She was so excited to use her pocket money to pay for binoculars to see the stage better!
I also have fond memories of working on the youth theatre production of The Addams Family while pregnant and feeling my baby kick and wriggle during rehearsals on The Varieties’ stage. And now I have my lovely baby, and, although she’s too young to come and see the panto this year, I cannot wait to bring her here with my parents so we can enjoy the theatre all together as a family and she can get that glint in her eye. I am really looking forward to that moment.
Sarah with her niece at Northern Ballet's The Nutcracker. Theatre is a family affair!
Ashley Pekri
Ashley painting the set for LGYT's Little Shop of Horrors at the Varieties. A man of many hats.
What does ‘family’ mean to you when thinking about The Varieties?
I started working at Leeds Heritage Theatres in 2017 as a team leader in front of house and was led on my first shift by a manager who recently retired after over 40 years of service. “When people join the theatre, they don’t leave” was the rather ominous message relayed to me on joining. Seven years on and I can now see why.
My first experience of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto at The Varieties was also under the guidance of a long-time team member, another duty manager who recently retired shortly after his 70th birthday. He had been attending the panto here since he was a child and had a sense of humour that reflected this.
Through my work, I have made close friends, introduced family, and [in The Varieties] even found a venue for my wedding next year. These venues are very special to me.
Stephen Brennan
What does ‘family’ mean to you when thinking about The Varieties?
As a child, going to see the local pantomime every year was part of my Christmas tradition, and I know it’s a big part of the festive season for so many families.
Whenever our panto is announced, social media always features comments from people talking about their first visit to our show years and years ago and being excited that their children and grandchildren are doing the same.
Last year, when I attended the panto at The Varieties, I sat behind a family: mum, dad, and a little girl of around five. It was the first time the little girl had been to the theatre and witnessing her excitement was such a joyful thing.
While she may not remember the show, she’ll definitely remember those emotions.
Some of the L&E team raising a Christmas coffee toast, Stephen on the right.
A schoolchild looking towards stage in the Varieties auditorium. Credit: Chris Coote
How does this influence your Learning & Engagement work?
Our Learning and Engagement work is about giving young people the chance to experience our spaces and feel the sense of wonder that little girl felt. We are so fortunate to have these incredible venues steeped in history.
I never take for granted how awe-inspiring young people find it when they step through our doors for the first time, nor the gift of history and legacy which means our venues can play such a key part in a family’s story. Especially at Christmas.
Imogen Hinchliffe
What does ‘family’ mean to you when thinking about The Varieties?
For my parents’ recent wedding anniversary, I treated them to a night at The Varieties for their first Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto. They loved the magic of Jack and the Beanstalk, watching the cast switch between centre stage and the band, creating an ‘all for one’ feel in the cast.
To make the visit extra special for my parents (and to steal the favourite child badge from my brother), I stuck their anniversary card to their seats for them to find: A fun touch that I can only do because I know the venue so well and spend so much time here!
Imogen fixing costumes backstage during LGYT's Little Shop of Horrors. Credit: Aaron Cawood
Jack and the Beanstalk wedding. Credit: Ant Robling
Imogen leading a theatre tour with a group from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary. Credit: Aaron Cawood
Sophie Ashley
What does ‘family’ mean to you when thinking about The Varieties?
One of my early memories in Leeds is of paying a visit to The Varieties on a miserable winter evening for a comedy gig with my boyfriend. Truth be told, I didn’t pay much attention at the time to the venue I had booked (and I had no idea the music hall was part of a family of venues before I picked up my physical ticket at Box Office with three little logos on).
But I still remember that now-familiar feeling of walking through the doors. I remember the warm welcome, the rich interiors, the intimate setting for escapism and laughter, and the giddy feeling of a night well spent afterward.
Schoolchildren from LEPP reacting to a theatre show. Credit Grow Productions
How does this influence your Learning & Engagement work?
This season is a wonderful time to reminisce on memories like that and imagine this winter marking the first visit for someone else and their loved ones.
When there is a matinee performance of the pantomime, we can hear the giggles, roars and squeals coming from the auditorium in our office. It’s the much-needed oil to our gears as we work towards Christmas, reminding us just how much those moments of escapism and laughter mean and how badly we want everyone to be able to experience them.
Book now
Building on the roaring success of past panto hits, Leeds’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto will be back to light up the festive season in 2025-26.
Tickets are available now to customers with any of our three memberships. General on sale and an official show announcement will follow on Fri 17 January 2025.
Leeds Heritage Theatres Engagement Fund
Every year, we work with young people across the city – in schools, youth groups and other sessions – to help them build skills, confidence and pride through our creative learning and engagement programme. All donations to this fund will help us to continue our work and reach more people across the region.
