THOSE less fortunate are able to enjoy the pantomime this year, thanks to donations made by generous Glasgow audience members.
Pay It Forward, an intiative set up by Glasgow’s Tron Theatre, gives a wide variety of disadvantaged people free tickets, refreshments and treats.
This year’s pantomime offering from the Tron is Mammy Goose, once again written by, directed by and starring the “undisputed king of panto” Johnny McKnight.
Donations from last year’s performances of Alice in Weegieland amounted to over £10,000, enabling groups from the NSPCC, Scottish Refugee Council and Glasgow Women’s Aid to see the panto.
Set up in 2016, Pay It Forward has become a popular way of helping theatres increase access to their work and a worthwhile initiative for the Tron to undertake during the festive season.
Lucy Christopher, business development manager at Tron Theatre said: “Our audiences are digging deep to raise even more than before.
“We look set to smash last year’s total, having raised £3298.57 since we opened just over a week ago.
“We have already had hundreds of young people and families benefit from last year’s fundraising by coming to see Mammy Goose and enjoying ice cream and toys, and we look forward to welcoming more to the theatre over the run of the production.
“This is all down to our generous audiences, and we would like to thank them for being the most fabulous audiences in all the pantosphere!”
CrossReach – Daisy Chain Early Years Project also benefitted from the scheme last year, bringing a group to see Alice in Weegieland.
Kenny Fulton, team leader of the Daisy Chain group said: “Bringing children and families together to have this wonderful shared memory means so much.
“A Massive thank you to the generosity of so many for making this possible.”
One service user from this year’s Scottish Refugee Council group said: “It was a time to be out, feel the air of Christmas and just relieve some burden in you.
“The events were helpful because It made us feel Christmas was in the air, and we belong, not separated from love of Christmas because we are asylum seekers.
“It made us feel we can also enjoy and feel Christmas”.
The Pay It Forward scheme will run again for the Tron’s 2019 pantomime Cinderfella, meaning more local groups and charities will benefit from funds donated by this year’s Mammy Goose audiences.
Mammy Goose, Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 27 Nov 2018 – 6 Jan 2019
Buy tickets here.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe