Barkway Players
Previous shows
2026: Snow White and the Seven Goggle-Eyed Monsters
Snow White and the Seven Goggle-Eyed Monsters gave the classic fairy tale a gloriously daft twist – exactly the kind of inventive fun that has characterised Barkway pantos for more than three decades.
Audiences were introduced to the kind-hearted Daffodil, her loyal cat Pickles, a whole collection of goggle-eyed monsters, Baron Von Vain – a baddie from outer space who was booed with great enthusiasm – and, of course, his mother, Dame Dotty! Packed with music, laughter and plenty of audience participation, the show delighted young and old alike. Judging by the feedback, many felt it may have been the best Barkway panto yet.
The pantomime played to full houses and, as always, raised vital funds for Barkway Village Hall, a registered charity at the heart of the community.
2025: Young King Cole and the New Clothes
Barkway’s annual pantomime returned in early February with an original show combining two traditional folk tales – Old King Cole and The King’s New Clothes. It was the 32nd pantomime performed by members of The Barkway Players.
It was written by members of the group who always enjoy giving a Barkway twist to well-known stories. Would Cole be crowned King of Barkway and be able to give his blessing to the marriage of the lovely Anne Stee and her sweetheart, Sandon? Or would scheming Baldock the Tailor succeed in his ambition to have evil pretender Ashwell N. Morden crowned king instead? There was something odd about Cole’s servant, Bob. And what of the strange goings on at Barkway’s unique wagon wash, featuring not only Winnie the Wise Woman, but also Ethel, the talking duck? Cole was in for a tricky time. Poor unfortunate Cole!
The show was well appreciated by lively audiences, and the sights and sounds will live with us for some time to come!
As usual, the show supported Barkway Village Hall, a local charity – overall raising about £2,000.
The closing show was dedicated to the memory of a much-loved member of the Players who had passed away in the autumn.
2024: The Four Mousketeers
We’re pleased to report that the 31st Barkway Pantomime performed by the Barkway Players was a success, with two of our three performances sold out.
The show was called “The Four Mousketeers”, and was based on the idea that Barkway was a centre of cheesemaking. Who will forget Madam Cheddar, her aging assistant Pa Miggiano, and her lovely daughter Minnie Cheddar? It was their job to grapple with and the baddie Gordon Zola, as he and his henchmen tried to steal the prize cheese, the Barkway Blue, and make a fortune with it.
Meanwhile, the audience was transfixed by a tug of love. Would Minnie Cheddar be forced into a loveless marriage with Prince Wensleydale, or would she be free to marry the love of her life, the amiable and handsome village handyman, Hal Loumi?
Alongside the four Mousketeers, who worked in the creamery, we met Buttercup the Cow, lots of little mice forming the Mouses of Parliament – and even the man in the moon.
It’s safe to say it was an original show.
The show raised over £1,300 for the village hall, not including a tidy investment in a new LED follow-spot.
2023: Shriek The Musical
For our landmark 30th season, the Players ventured into hitherto untried territory: horror. And much of the run-up to the show was spent reassuring the audience that the monsters, ghoulies and ghosties were really quite friendly.
Dr Frankenstein in his lab created a monster that was more than he bargained for. As if that wasn’t problem enough, the visit of Drusilla the Vampire piled on trouble for the Doctor.
Would poor, innocent Derek manage to hit it off with lovely Holly Wood? What would become of the four resident ghosts? Would the heroes manage to negotiate the land of the evil Empress and her Biscuity Guards? You had to be there to find out, and as usual the pantomime played to packed houses.
It raised some £2,100 for the village hall.
2022: Robinson Crusoe
After the enforced postponement in 2021, the Barkway Pantomime returned with a flourish in February 2022 with a zany and original production of Robinson Crusoe, featuring sirens, pirates, a talking gorilla, Octavia the Octopus, Imelda the Prawn and, of course, Girl Thursday. And nobody will quickly forget Mrs Crusoe with her astonishing rendition of Gangnam Style.
Audiences, though deliberately reduced in size as a Covid precaution, made up for that with their enthusiasm, especially during the sell-out matinée performance.
We’re delighted to have put on such a great show on schedule. Rehearsing in face masks is not something we would like to repeat, so let’s hope next year – when we expect to present our 30th pantomime – will be a more normal season!
2020: Toad in a Hole
Full houses at Barkway Village Hall witnessed Ratty, Badger, Mole and Dorothy the Dinosaur fight back against evil developer Bandersnatch, who wanted to build a factory on the riverbank. Poor old Mr Toad managed to get himself into a bit of a mess as the temptation of being the first in the county to own a bright red motor car proved too much for him. Exiled into the Wild Wood, Toad was befriended by Dorothy who offered him the key to her heart – and also to Mole’s mysterious box which proved to contain the solution to all the Riverbank folk’s problems.
It was a happy and well-received show, and has raised nearly £3,400 for Barkway Village Hall, as usual – a new record. The proceeds will help pay for the new LED stage lights which were installed in December.
The Players also raised some £526 in a retiring collection for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, in memory of a much-loved member of the group who passed away in the autumn.
