Episode 129 - UK Pantomime Awards 2026

Episode 129 – Live from the UK Pantomime Awards 2026!

In this episode of the Just Imagine Podcast, Martin takes you right to the heart of the action at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026 – the biggest night in the panto calendar.

From the buzz of the red carpet to behind-the-scenes conversations with some of the industry’s brightest stars, this episode captures the energy, excitement, and celebration of everything that makes pantomime so special. Expect candid chats, standout moments, and a real sense of what it means to be part of the panto community.

Plus, find out if we won any awards!

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of panto or just curious about what goes on beyond the stage, this is your all-access pass to one unforgettable night.

🎧 Tune in now and experience the magic of the UK Pantomime Awards!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Just Imagine, a podcast series by Imagine Theatre.

SPEAKER_06 0:07

Yes, hello again. Welcome to episode 129 of the Just Imagine Podcast series. And for the fifth year, I'm delighted to say that we're back at the UK Pantomime Association Awards in High Wickham.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

For more information, go to their website at www.imagineheatre.co.uk.

SPEAKER_06 0:26

In the last episode, I was joined by the stage and television actor and pantomime regular at the Crew Lyceum, Steve Johnston. Don't worry if you missed that or any of the other previous episodes, because they're all still available. So make sure you check them out and while you're at it, subscribe to the series so you don't miss any future episodes. So this time I'm excited to say we are here at the Wickham Swan in High Wickham to take you behind the scenes at the 2026 Star-Spangled Annual Awards event where Imagine Theatre shows have been nominated for eight awards. It's being staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment, and it's going to be hosted this year by Vernon Kay. Well, first of all, Simon Sladen, what a joy it is to be back here. Well I say back here because this is another new venue, but back at the awards.

SPEAKER_14 1:16

I know, can you believe it? And it's our fifth birthday. It was funny, before today I was looking at some of the statistics over the years. We have our judges now visited over 3,000 performances for the Panther Awards. It's such an amazing milestone. And think about all those awards and all those people that have been nominated and won, and just the wonderful community that's grown and grown over the last five years. And we're here today at Wickham Swan. It's going to be bigger and better than ever. Um, and I can't wait. The buzz already, the red carpet, the sun is out. I mean, what better way than to celebrate the best of Hantam?

SPEAKER_06 1:50

It's early, yeah. There's still an hour or so to go, but it's already buzzing and has been for quite some time since the doors open at three.

SPEAKER_14 1:57

Even before the doors opened, we were doing some final checks here. And about half past two, people were already looking as glamorous as ever outside. We've been doing the sound checks, we've been making sure everybody everything's in place, that the proseca glasses are chilled. So, yeah, I think we're good and ready to go. We're polishing the trophies as we speak.

SPEAKER_06 2:15

And this epitomises everything that the association stands for. A big celebration of Panto. Whether you're a winner or not, whether you're a nominee or not, this is such a great event to get together, isn't it?

SPEAKER_14 2:27

Yeah, this is for this is for the industry. This is the greatest way for us to celebrate all that hard work, all that skill, all that craft, all that expertise that we absolutely champion at the UK Pantomime Association through the awards, through our events, through our online presence. And here it's so special, you know, pantomime we know it's important, it's absolutely full of expertise. Craft is something very special to the UK, and we feel very privileged to be able to help spread that championing of pantomime and all that there is that's involved, because we absolutely should be proud of it. And everybody here tonight is here to celebrate pantomime. You know, whether whether they win or not, winning is lovely, but to be nominated is great, and we have loads of people here supporting how vibrant the industry is. And actually, when we look back to five years ago, it's amazing to think how much has changed just in those five years, and how even more vibrant and exciting and innovative, but still harking and celebrating those traditions. I mean, it's a tough decision of who wins, and it's a tough decision, you know, when we're going around all those theatres and thinking it, but we're flying the flag for everyone tonight, and we're so grateful for that entertainment that we get each season.

SPEAKER_06 3:38

Well, I know you've got to go to a judges' meeting now, uh, but a quick word for the judges who give their time to go and see hundreds of shows every year. It couldn't happen without them, could it?

SPEAKER_14 3:48

It couldn't happen without our judges, you know, and we're so grateful. Every one of them is a volunteer. So they go through a long training session, they go through three conferences. You know, one of our judges sees over 50 shows, so it's doing all of that out on the road, juggling, family, work, everything else that happens through snow, through rain, in the air, on the motorway, walking, bicycling, you name it, they do it. So we're so grateful. Without them, we just couldn't do this, and all of our other volunteers as well. So, you know, we salute you all, and we're very glad all to be on that pantomime train of celebrating a genre that we all love and that is the art form for us.

SPEAKER_06 4:26

Well, look, it's going to be a very busy night. Enjoy it if you possibly can. And Simon, thank you again for talking to us. My pleasure, and uh great to have you here again, Martin.

SPEAKER_14 4:33

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_06 4:35

So, Imagine's nominations this year. Steve Elias in Snow White at the Lyric Theatre in Camarthan is nominated as Best Dame. The best newcomer to Panto is Jack Hobbit Hobbs from Dick Whittington at DeMontford Hall in Leicester. The best secondary lead nomination for Imagine is Finley McKilleb from Sleeping Beauty at the Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford. Best Sisters nominated Hannah Roberts and Fran Cottingham, aka Hannah and Fran for Cinderella at Venue Cymru in Landudno. Best contribution to music, Steve Clark and Sean Critton for Cinderella at Venue Cymru in Landudno. The best costume nomination in Imagine's Team goes to James McKyver for Sleeping Beauty at the Bellgrave Theatre in Coventry. Best Lighting for Matt Ladkin, who we featured on the podcast recently for Sleeping Beauty at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon. And the other nomination is for the Best Pantomime in a venue with 500 or more seats, and that's for Snow White at Eden Court in Inverness. Amongst the other nominees today are Will Young, Helen George, Nigel Harmon, George Webster, Joe McKeldry, Sarah Hadland, Grant Stott, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot, Ada Camp, Clive Rowe, Vicky Stone, and Alan Stewart. Well, the man who every year has the headache of pulling this whole thing together, the producer of the awards at yet another different venue, Sam Monday Webb. How are you?

SPEAKER_09 6:03

I'm good. Do you know what? I'm more calm than uh than I've ever been, which is ironic because we pull the start time forward. So I think that often happens. You know, it just it just so happens that you you think you've got less time, you you you plow through, and I'm I'm here, I'm about to enjoy a glass of proseco.

SPEAKER_06 6:19

Wow, well that's incredible. I guess though, a lot of this comes with the experience of doing it you know four years before.

SPEAKER_09 6:25

Absolutely. We've made it a bit harder for ourselves this year in that we've put a full opening number in, so we've got a five-minute opening number, which our fabulous lead, who is Michael J. Bachelor, he was put into it today. So um, but Arts Mama rehearsing last week, it's it's looking really good. It's very referential for from this year's season.

SPEAKER_06 6:47

Do you know it would have been great if the association team could have been involved in that opening number? It would be great to see you all, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_09 6:54

It would, but that would come with even more stress. Maybe, maybe, maybe. I say leave it to the pros.

SPEAKER_06 7:04

This year, another fabulous venue. It's almost like a number one tour for the awards because every year the venues are incredible, and they all get behind the association and do whatever they can to help.

SPEAKER_09 7:15

Yeah, I think they know that this is an industry event, uh, which is really lovely. So the the venue teams want to impress because they know that they've got theatre managers and producers from across the country coming. And do you know what? Every year the venue team are just outstanding and they they muck in, and we've got a team, uh created team that have really pulled from year to year to make sure it happens and and it's slick, and and I guess that's why it's run so well because people know exactly what what's going on, and that's that's really helpful.

SPEAKER_06 7:44

Hopefully, then if there's less pressure this year, you can enjoy it even more.

SPEAKER_09 7:49

Well, I hope so, but I think once the curtain goes up, those nerves of uh making sure it it runs to time and it runs okay are present. But do you know what? I always get to the end and I feel like I've run a marathon, uh, and I'm sure it'll be like that again tonight. But um, I'm very excited to uh to say we're five years old this year, which is uh which is a huge achievement, uh, and there'll be a birthday cake later.

SPEAKER_06 8:11

We look forward to that. I have to say, on behalf of everybody who's here and everybody involved in Panto up and down the UK, the far and wide, wherever the venues are, thank you to you and everybody at the association for doing all the fabulous work that you do, which has epitomised it in this evening because it really does bring the industry together. So, well done, Sam, and enjoy the evening. Thank you, you too.

SPEAKER_08 8:49

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the women's wall and the pantomime of 2026. A child of sixty-four judges, sixty-four judges have been six fights across the country. How many dependants, everyone? Six thirty-four eligible and crazy, how many gold gas tonight? We have gathered to celebrate the price, the very, very the cream of the crop of twenty twenty-five. And instead of the palatry, the let's weapon holler for every single person in the room and sisters and friends.

SPEAKER_06 9:44

Excited for this one. This is Hannah Roberts and Fran Cottingham from Imagine Theatre Cinderella and venue Cymru in London.

SPEAKER_16 10:04

I'm not gonna lie, we we did not expect to go on the first one in our home time, which is really special. And I'd like to be combinated, so grateful to imagine normal all the team, things everything so much more than you find every rest of my life. Um we're so happy that we've done it for you.

SPEAKER_06 10:36

So, as you heard, best sisters this year, Han and Fran, your first ever panto. How does it feel?

SPEAKER_17 10:43

Oh my life, I don't know if we can even put into words how this feels. I mean, like I said on stage, we got to do our first panto in our hometown, which was super special for us. Thank you, and to to be nominated was enough for us.

SPEAKER_16 10:58

Yeah, you know, but to win it! Do you know what? How many what was it? Six months ago, we were in our office jobs and we made a big decision to leave them and follow our dreams, and we got a pantou and I couldn't. I couldn't see the best contract we've ever done, and we just yeah, we just hope to be able to do it again, don't we? We really do, we want to do it again so badly. I cannot believe we obviously we've got confidence in ourselves, but I don't know. I don't think I don't think I had that much confidence.

SPEAKER_17 11:32

I think because we were at home and we knew the theatre staff and we were so comfortable and we were so sort of familiar with the the place, the area, the building, we felt very much at home and we felt like we were yeah, we felt like we were where we belonged. And and that's why it was special for us, and the whole run was incredible. We had a great cast, it was great, everything just seemed to be perfect, didn't it?

SPEAKER_16 11:57

And it was it was we were like one big family, and it was just a beautiful experience. It really was, it really was.

SPEAKER_06 12:03

And of course, the last twelve, eighteen months or so, it's really changed your lives, isn't it?

SPEAKER_17 12:07

Yeah, I mean it started from obviously last year we did Rends Got Talent, we just wanted we did that because we just wanted a better quality performing on the stage, we wanted a better quality gig, we wanted to maybe do the odd festival here and there, and we just wanted to game slightly from yeah, from what we were doing in the weekly, and we left it. We left singing together, and we just thought what what can we do next? So we did that and it worked for us, and and this is this is what we do now, this is our job. We perform for a living, and and that was the dream, and I think, yeah, it we are living our dream.

SPEAKER_06 12:40

It's a Cinderella story, isn't it? Well the only disappointment the only disappointment for me is that you're not going to do a medley of abba here.

SPEAKER_17 12:47

Oh, I'm so sorry. I mean, we can do it at the after party for you later if you like.

SPEAKER_06 12:51

Listen, you're in demand, so congratulations. That'll be the right lyrics though, by the way.

SPEAKER_17 12:55

She's had a couple of drinks, do you know what innit?

SPEAKER_06 12:57

Congratulations, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_17 12:59

Thank you so much so much, thank you.

SPEAKER_16 13:01

Stanley Baxter Award for Best Dame.

SPEAKER_17 13:04

The winners!

SPEAKER_06 13:16

So the best dame for 2026, man and boy, 28 years, up in Edinburgh, Alan Stewart, congratulations.

SPEAKER_15 13:24

It's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Um as everyone says, I wasn't expecting it, but this is really, really great. 28 years, man and woman, not man and boy. So, what is it about pantomime for you? What keeps you coming back year after year? What do you love about it? I did my first pantomime in 1975. 1975 and uh I did my first dame in 1997, and I think I've enjoyed it even more since I became a dame. I love I just love the freedom of being this character, which is my auntie May. Uh, used to do it in television as a character, and it was an easy transition from being a buttons and wishy-washy to go straight into being a dame. But the the fun that we have, I promise you, uh it is not work at all. It's just every day, and the team we have in Edinburgh is is great. We have a laugh every day. Every interval, we're sitting there laughing. So you can't ask any more than that for your work.

SPEAKER_06 14:19

And the role is perfect for you, your background in comedy, impressions, and all the stuff that you did before, as you say. You know, very often comedy female characters that you did on television.

SPEAKER_15 14:29

It's absolutely perfect for you, isn't it? Perfect, it's perfect, yeah. And now uh I only found out in the last few years that as a dame, I didn't think I could actually do impressions of men because it wouldn't be accepted. But we started doing them recently, and uh so I still do I now do impressions as anti-mate, which is another little string to the ball, you know.

SPEAKER_06 14:48

Why not? Because that's what Panto's about. It continues to evolve. You can do anything, absolutely you can. Yeah, listen, congratulations. I know you were nominated last year, yeah. And what did you say to the audience?

SPEAKER_15 14:58

I said uh I was nominated last year and I didn't win, and I won this year, which proves that I must have really improved in a year. A really good impression. Alan, thank you so much. Congratulations. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 15:15

James McIver! This is a much deserved award for James Macyver for Imagines co-production of Sleeping Beauty with the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. James Macyver, congratulations, you look absolutely delighted.

SPEAKER_02 15:34

Thank you so much. No, I genuinely am. It's uh a real shock to win. Um there's some real talent there tonight, you know, that's been nominated, and it's uh you know great to be recognised for all the hard work that Mia and the team do.

SPEAKER_06 15:45

Yeah, well of course, your reputation for costume design is well known across the UK in any case. But tell us about your relationship with Imagine and the Belgrade in commentary, how did that come about?

SPEAKER_02 15:57

Uh so the relationship with the Belgrade and uh Imagine, I started building some uh key pieces for them for a couple of years. Uh then I took on, they asked me, would I join forces with them and design the whole production and produce that with them and build those costumes? And from then it's grown with a relationship with Imagine Theatre and through you know continuing that relationship also with the Belgrade.

SPEAKER_06 16:18

Yeah, and we know with Panto it's not just a 12-month job, you're working years in advance, aren't you? So just how many costumes and and various attachments and so on do you produce every year?

SPEAKER_02 16:30

It's a really good question, and people ask it all the time. I don't know, but we've started to keep count because we we're interested ourselves to be like how many pieces we are producing. You know, we work on uh quite a few panthos, you know, throughout the year. We start working on panto as soon as it's live, so we're working on the next one, and it's kind of always Christmas uh and always panto in the studio.

SPEAKER_06 16:50

And with the costumes, I mean there are there are there are so many different ones, but which gives you the most pleasure? Is it the dame? Because you can really go to town with that, can't you?

SPEAKER_02 16:59

I think the dame is always kind of the uh the the big player in a panto, but I like to kind of push the boundaries with everybody, you know, clash those colours, bring those patterns in, and just really bring so much joy. You know, that that first moment where the cloth goes out and you're in the village, I just want it to burst with colour, you know.

SPEAKER_06 17:15

Well, congratulations to you, but you did pay tribute while you're on stage to the Imagine team, to the Belgrade team, and your own team, because without them you probably couldn't have won this award.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Yeah, no, it's a big team, big collaboration with all of us working together to kind of really get this off the ground. It's stressful, it's hard work, but we love what we do.

SPEAKER_06 17:34

And the man who should really be presented with an award is your husband, because he has a lot to put up with, doesn't he?

SPEAKER_02 17:40

He does, yeah, he does. I kind of disappear for quite a long time, and then he knows I'm back because there's uh sequins and fellas in the house. James, congratulations, enjoy the evening. Thank you so much, thank you.

SPEAKER_06 17:55

Well, what can I say? This man has won awards in all sorts of areas on television, musical theatre, panto, you name it, but this is the first time, Gary, that you've directed. Gary Walmott is the director of the year. Well done.

SPEAKER_03 18:09

Thank you. I know it's it's quite strange, really, of all the nominations, and I know there were some wonderful directors up there, but it seems that this year I'm the best. So quite an honour. What made you decide to direct after all these years in the business? Well, I was I was asked to do it by Michael Harrison, and uh and I've always wanted to do it. I've done stuff before, but never been paid to direct. I direct workshops and all sorts of things.

SPEAKER_06 18:30

Michael Payne.

SPEAKER_03 18:33

Well, barely, but yeah. But you know, I just wanted the opportunity of doing it, and he's given me everything, you know, the whole thing, the whole good cast, you know, Charlie's Charlie's stem and the battle brush, and Michael Windsor committed Windsor. And uh and Helen and Helen which is great, the whole thing is great.

SPEAKER_06 18:51

And what a beautiful theatre as well.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

Oh yeah, well, I mean that's the Frank Matcham theatre. You know, he designed it and he knew exactly what he was doing. I wish more designers, particularly modern ones. Uh my daughter, my oldest daughter's an architect, and I say if you can match match them, you'll be doing really well.

SPEAKER_06 19:07

So, uh what's next for you now then? You're back at Richmond next year. Um you can do more directing now?

SPEAKER_03 19:13

Well, hopefully, yeah. I want to direct um uh musicals, but you know, full-blown musicals uh right from scratch. Uh not necessarily revivals, but you know, I would love to do that, and maybe one day I'll get the be given the opportunity to do that. But um yeah, I'm in Regents Park this year um in Cats. I'm playing Gus the Theatre Cat, which I think is quite apt, don't you? Absolutely. So uh I'm doing that for the whole summer.

SPEAKER_06 19:36

Well listen, congratulations, thanks for talking to us.

SPEAKER_03 19:38

A pleasure, Martin. I see. If I don't see you before, have a lovely Christmas. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 20:08

You may remember, was also Imagine Theatre's dame in Beauty and the Beast at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax last season.

SPEAKER_18 20:27

I really did think I was going to win regretting that fifth proseco. It was fantastic to be paid to do what you love, and I loved writing panto, directing and uh playing game as well. But I wrote a lot of panto here two years ago and have one. Yes, not I recognise a word of it in the country.

SPEAKER_06 20:50

Well, what an honour it is to finally meet Andrew Pollard, who this year has picked up this magnificent award for best script. Congratulations!

SPEAKER_19 20:59

Thank you very much. I'm so chuffed, I can't tell you. I really didn't think I was gonna win. There were some great people there on that category, and uh it is such I can't tell you it's such an honour. Panto has been such a part of my life professionally and as a kid and you know amateur stuff. So it's it's an absolute joy to win this.

SPEAKER_06 21:16

So is writing in the script something that you picked up from performing in Panto, or have you always wanted and uh and tried to write?

SPEAKER_19 21:25

I've always dabbled with writing, um but yeah, you know, the opportunity came along at one point and I I grabbed it with both hands, you know. And uh it's one of those things, isn't it? Panto is it's I think it keeps you on your toes, it has to change, but it kind of stays the same. And it I just love that thing where you it it progresses and you you have to keep you have to keep in the trends of what's going on, but also you have to keep tradition, and I love the tradition of it as well.

SPEAKER_06 21:53

Yeah, I mean obviously in the evolution of Panto, there are many elements, you don't necessarily need them all some kind. Change, others will stay the same. As long as the core of Panto remains, you've got the perfect recipe, haven't you?

SPEAKER_19 22:06

Absolutely. And also it's often the story. You know, you you I all I always keep hold of that story because you know that kids they believe in it, and you have to remember that. It's always that thing of writing funny gags for the adults is great. But the kids believe in it, and I think that's the magic as well. And that's why when kids are up, they bring their kids to see it because they believe in the stories. So it it it's such it's such a unique, brilliant thing, um, a British thing, and I'm so shocked hard.

SPEAKER_06 22:38

So when you start to write any panto, do you go back to the original fairy tale? Is that where you start?

SPEAKER_19 22:43

I do, yeah, yeah. And it's interesting now because of Disney, sometimes you're coerced into doing something slightly different. But actually, with this Beauty and the Beast, uh, I did go back to the original story, and uh Lawrence Batley is so it's a homegrown panto. So within that, I am allowed to sort of maybe move it a little bit into a world that wouldn't necessarily happen in commercial theatre, even though they have their you know their supply. But um yeah, it it it allows me to sort of uh play around with it a little bit.

SPEAKER_06 23:14

Laurence Batley, the home of variety, really, in in in many ways. So they love their entertainment, they love their panto there. You've got some fabulous audiences as well, and obviously uh fantastic script. So, congratulations! Thank you very much. Thank you. Let's go back inside and see who's won the latest award.

SPEAKER_08 23:32

Please join me in celebrating a true pantomime icon. That is the wonderful Leslie Johnson.

SPEAKER_12 23:50

I love pantomime, poor mines love pantomime, and there is nothing more wonderful than looking at and seeing whole families because you know if the children love it, then hopefully they're going to carry on coming for the rest of their lives and just walking on.

SPEAKER_06 24:07

Well, one of the most fitting awards of the evening went tonight to Leslie Joseph, and this you are an icon of television, theatre, and of pantomime. But I think this award was particularly special for you, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_13 24:22

It feels it honestly, it it means an awful lot because I've always taken Panto seriously and I love it every year, and it means so much to me. And also, there's loads of magic in it. You know, you have dance, choreography, you have dancing, you have drama, and that fourth wall is broken, so you speak to the audience. And I've done so many wonderful shows, and I I love it, and and actually, when I've sometimes had a matinee off, I think, oh my god, I need to do two shows a day. You know, the companies are always fabulous, and I absolutely adore it. And I I'm so thrilled that they've now got these um awards that recognise pantomime. You know, the fact that Michael Harrison's now 10 years at the Palladium, which is the most iconic theatre, to be full of pantomime means so much. It really does. So, yeah, I'm I'm really, really thrilled.

SPEAKER_06 25:14

Just take a look at the monitor behind you and see who's just picked up the latest award. Brian Conley.

SPEAKER_13 25:19

Oh, it's Brian Conley.

SPEAKER_06 25:20

Yeah. Who you talked about earlier because you played the hip drum with him.

SPEAKER_13 25:24

Yeah, I absolutely did. I've worked a lot with Brian Conley. I have worked with him a lot, and um, I love working with him. Absolutely love it. So I'm thrilled that he's got this. Absolutely, he's fantastic. And he's he's a bit like me, his heart is in it, you know. Pantomime for me, it just means everything. It really does.

SPEAKER_06 25:44

Well, listen, congratulations. You're very much in demand. You need to go and have your photograph taken and some other interviews. Leslie, congratulations.

SPEAKER_13 25:51

Thank you, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_04 25:52

What a wonderful honour, it really is. And to be here celebrating this, I know everyone says it, but you know, to be recognised in front of your peers really is uh very special. Do you have any idea how many pantos you've done now? I think well, I've done so many, I don't know, and that's the truth. Uh uh, my first one was in 1978 with Kenny Smiles at the Grand Theatre, and yes, that was a long time ago. I feel it could be you know 40 or nearly 40. I know in with three years got about 30, but I know there's another 10 there at least. And you still love it. I love it. I love the art of it, I love the um that we play to a whole audience, you know, from little kids right up to 90-year-olds, you know, and beyond, you know. So for me it is uh there's a real art to it, an art to sort of making it special, making that afternoon or that evening special, and giving 110.

SPEAKER_06 26:46

We'll leave them to collect their awards and celebrate together. Leslie Joseph and Brian Conley. Thank you so much, Brian.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

Please join me, ladies and gentlemen, in celebrating the recipient of this year's outstanding achievement award. It is the wonderful Terry Parsons.

SPEAKER_06 27:13

This award was announced by the legendary Anita Harris and goes to Terry Parsons, who's a celebrated theatre designer with more than 50 years of experience in all sorts of genres, from musicals and plays to ballets and pantomime. And many years ago, he worked with the legendary pantomime Dane George Lacey.

SPEAKER_05 27:35

I'm very much a backstage person, so I'm sorry I'm in the final speech, and I I can't quite believe you can get the award for tracking the literature so many people. And if you know what you're doing, it all stinks. The first thing that comes to mind is to mention the myriad stars I work with. They were all just inspirational. But I'd have to mention one. It was the last four months.

SPEAKER_08 28:09

Congratulations to all the moments and our fabulous nominees. Ladies and gentlemen, the bomb is gone. Thank you for the producers, and another thank you to our dedicated team of judges again. So thank you very much for coming and supporting the Pantomine World 2026. Of course, a big thank you to the UK Pantomine Association trustees for tonight. You've done once again a cracking job.

SPEAKER_06 29:10

Steve Bowden, joint CEOs with Sarah, both here tonight. What a tremendous evening again.

SPEAKER_07 29:15

It's just been the most wonderful award. You know, the fact that we can come and celebrate with all the people who work tirelessly over Christmas, fans of the genre, theatre managers, producers, fellow practitioners, it's just a great opportunity just to catch up. Because at Christmas, none of us really have time to see each other. So it's great, and everybody just feels the magic and the warmth in the room to celebrate what everybody has done. It is so important, and it was great that it was acknowledged tonight from the stage that actually it is the lifeblood of theatre still, and that's you know something that we should be really proud of to you know to support and keep going.

SPEAKER_06 29:50

Absolutely, and uh for Imagine eight nominations, uh a couple of awards, and another good year.

SPEAKER_07 29:55

Yeah, it is absolutely, and it's really great to see the recognition across the whole gamut of theatres in this country, you know, to see great Scottish representation, Welsh representation, all the panto's that we do over here in England as well. The art form is not the same in every territory, and it's really good that that's recognised. And yeah, a great collection of winners tonight. We're really pleased for Han and Fran because they were an absolute joy to work with over in Flandinno, and it's their hometown, and that's what Panto's about. It's rooting it in the communities that it's there to serve. And Han and Fran were a perfect example of that. And of course, James MacIver, who's just a brilliant costume designer and has a fantastic making team.

SPEAKER_06 30:34

Just a quick word for your casting team because the whole event was hosted by Vernon Kay. Imagine took a punt on him for his first panto, and he won the best newcomer. You took a punt this year on Han and Fran, and look what they did as well. So, you know, kudos to your team on the casting side.

SPEAKER_07 30:52

Thank you, and I think it is. We're always looking to find something different. There was a lot of celebration of new and challenging the art form and pushing boundaries, and I think that's what we and most other producers try and do. It's really important that we drive the art form forward, take risks, take calculated risks, because you know it's it's difficult out there at the moment, the world's in a funny old place, but make sure that we keep developing the art form for the next generation. Steve, thank you, and congratulations again. Thank you, great to see you, Martin.

SPEAKER_06 31:20

And that's it for now from us all here at the Swan Theatre in High Wickham at the 2026 UK Pantomime Association Awards. Congratulations to all the nominees, the category winners, and the host Vernon Kaye. Plus, many thanks to the UK Pantomime Association and the organisers led by producer Sam Monday Webb for what has been another fabulous event. Once again, thanks to you for supporting this podcast series. And don't forget there are many more fabulous guests still to come. So make sure you subscribe now and join me, Martin Ballard, for episode 130, when I'll be joined by Andrew Agnew and Simon Sladen to take an in-depth look at another pantomime title, and this time it's Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

SPEAKER_00 32:01

Thank you for listening to the latest edition of Just Imagine, the podcast series from Imagine Theatre.imagine Theatre.co.uk