Look back at a century of pantos in New Brighton and Wallasey

As the excitement builds for the start of this year’s Floral Pavilion's latest classic Pantomime ‘The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook’, we look back at New Brighton’s long tradition of family pantomimes over the last century.

Thanks to Wirral Archives we can take a look back at many of those shows with the help of the programme souvenirs.

Even 100 years ago the panto was a firm family tradition and theatres in Wallasey and New Brighton were hosting shows around Christmas time. A century ago the Coliseum Theatre in Wallasey Village hosted ‘Aladdin – up – to – date’ from December 29 to January 3.

Below is the programme - with quite an alarming cover - and inside you can see adverts from local businesses of the time, from across Wallasey and even Liverpool:

Below are programmes from the 1930s, some reflecting the artistic style of the time, from the particularly the striking Cinderella Souvenir Programme from 1932 with its stylish image of a car and modern font, to the 1937 production of Cinderella with its simpler programme cover design and ornate font:

This poster is believed to be from a panto in 1960:

Jumping forward to the 1970s we find the Christmas Panto is full flow and as popular as ever and in 1976 a programme would set you back five pence!

The 1980s saw the stars continuing to come to New Brighton for panto season:

1985 and 1986 saw local comedian Stan Boardman starring in the pantos - Cinderella and then Babes in the Wood. Both programmes are below:

In 1992 one of Birkenhead's most famous actors starred in the production of Aladdin in New Brighton. Lewis Collins, who the programme (below) describes as "the son of a Cammell Lairds shipwright". The programme continues, saying that that after stints as a hairdresser and Liverpool rock group The Mojos a successful acting career followed which saw him become a household name at the time playing the "hard man" Bodie in The Professionals, as well as starring later in a number of films.

Lewis was joined on stage by Bobby Gee from Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz, and local radio stars Billy Butler abnd Wally Scott.

These are posters for the panto in 1991-2 and 1992-3:

The panto tradition continues this year with the The Further Adventures of Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook at the Floral Pavilion. 

And so that even more local families can enjoy the wonder of the Floral Pavilion’s classic Pantomime hundreds of tickets are now just £15 each - meaning you can now join Peter, Smee, Tinker Bell, and Ethyl Mermaid on a brand-new swashbuckling adventure full of fun, laughter… and crocodiles and get to enjoy all the fun of the traditional Pantomime with a West End cast – but without paying West End prices.

Book your tickets now online at The Further Adventures of Peter Pan - The Return of Captain Hook - Floral Pavilion