Minehead Panto People staged Hansel and Gretel at the Regal Theatre in January 10 – and now they have a clutch of accolades in the Cinderella Pantomime Awards.

Directed by Kris McNeill and produced by Jeanette Foster wit musical director John Whellams, the panto was seen by judges assessing all pantomimes staged between December and March by groups affiliated to the Somerset Fellowship of Drama. There are about 30 entries every year.

The nominations and awards are usually given out at the presentation evening at a venue in West Somerset – but this year they were watched on laptops and phones linked in to Zoom.

Minehead’panto person’ Penny Williams won the prize for Goody of the Year, and production also won the Moderator’s Award for a circus scene.

In addition, there were several nominations for the Hansel and Gretel team:

Best musical director, John Whellams; best director, Kris McNeill; best theatre stage management, Ryan Boulton and team; dame of the year, Nigel McBrayn; best props, Peter Thompson; best cameo performance (Crows) Penny Brown and Sarah Wilsher; best male singer (Prince Johann) Alfie Yates; best female singer year (Fairy Bluebell); Penny Williams; promising young performers, Harriet Hosken, Natalia Carey, Gracie Jackson, Abigail Kelly and Redley Daley.

Hansel and Gretel’s junior chorus, adult chorus, theatre musicians and dance troupe were also in the running for awards, and the capture of light in a bucket was nominated for the special effects award.

More pictures in this week’s Free Press.