A SMALL Flintshire theatre is gearing up to host its annual Christmas panto.

Hawkesbury Little Theatre, home of Buckley Theatre Club, is back with a bang next week when its 12-performance run of Snow White kicks off on Wednesday (November 22).

A spokesperson for the theatre said: "We are all so excited to start our panto run again. We have lots of new faces this year, together with some old favourites. We have been working in conjuction with Theatr Clwyd this year to stage our panto.

"We are very grateful for all their assistance, and for the use of their box office facilities to sell our tickets. It's all been invaluable. Rehearsals have been going well and we're looking forward to putting on 12 fabulous shows."

The Leader:

Elsberdance, a Buckley-based dance school, is also joining the panto again this year, and has some dance routines lined up within the panto.

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​The theatre has sold over 1,000 tickets now across the 12 performances. Tickets are available from Theatr Clwyd's website at https://bit.ly/3ula7Yc. 

The Leader: The production's tech team - Chris Lucas (lighting and sound), Charlotte Mayers-Jones and Pete Norwood (lighting).The production's tech team - Chris Lucas (lighting and sound), Charlotte Mayers-Jones and Pete Norwood (lighting). (Image: Cathy Mayers-Jones)

Hawkesbury Little Theatre has faced a turbulent year - with its future having been thrown into doubt over a planning application for continued use of a portable building as its changing room facilities. 

Planning officials had recommended the application for refusal - before the planning committee deferred the decision until December of last year. 

Thankfully, the theatre was given a two-and-a-half year lifeline - with temporary planning granted for its changing rooms to remain.

The spokesperson said: "The 12 months have been very traumatic - this time last year the theatre club was in the position of possibly losing the theatre because of the planning issue. 

"The planning application only lasts until 2025, so we must remain active try and obtain planning permission from then onwards."