Taking place in January, the production will centre on the legend of two young princes, sons of Edmund Ironside, who disappeared.
Blamed for their disappearance, King Canute, a real-life villain, remains part of local history, with his remains in Winchester Cathedral’s mortuary chests.
Shawford’s 2024 pantomime The Sword in the Stone. (Image: Adrian Walmsley)
Each Shawford pantomime has its own unique elements. In the forthcoming production, Sherwood will make an appearance, replete with familiar residents dealing with challenges posed by a cunning sheriff.
The pantomime will also continue the traditions established over more than a century by Shawford’s Heathcote Players.
Their first pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, was staged in 1906, marking the beginning of a legacy that included contributions from playwright Barbara Clegg and Coincidentally, her last pantomime, in 1972, was Red Riding Hood and the Babes in the Wood.
The format of the productions evolved over the years, with a new performance being staged every other year since 1997.
Babes in the Wood will run at Shawford Parish Hall from Thursday, January 8 to Saturday, January 10.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite, with the matinee performance already sold out.