Cinderella will be going to the ball with Wellingborough producer's 'digital panto'

A Wellingborough actor and theatre producer has vowed to keep her show on the road despite Covid restrictions hitting her touring company's community panto productions.

Eva Long Productions' shows usually reach 450 schools, residential and care homes across England but the pandemic has forced the company's founder to reinvent the 2020 season of panto fun.

As well as offering face-to-face Covid-compliant shows, their Cinderella performances will now be offered digitally with subscribers able to access the traditional madness and mayhem from their classrooms, care homes and even from home, if in isolation.

Eva Long, artistic director and founder of Eva Long Productions, said: "The show will go on. We will be offering the usual great family fun with all the 'it's behind you', custard pies and fart jokes. It's pure escapism and fantasy. We need to escape from everything going on at the moment."

Schools who sign up will be given access to the pre-recorded show with a pack of interactive songs, crafts and activities to join in whether watching in their school bubble or from home if in self-isolation.

Mum-of-three Eva, 37, who has been producing panto since 2005, had to re-think how to deliver pantomimes to community venues.

She said: "We have made our live shows Covid secure by meeting all the government guidelines including face covering, social distancing and improved hygiene but still our bookings are reduced massively. We are still taking bookings for live shows at a reduced capacity.

"I sent out 10,000 brochures across the country but only got four replies - I usually get 500. Some care homes have said they just can't have us in. This is when we realised the key would be in also providing a digital pantomime for community venues."

A former Wellingborough School pupil, Eva has devised a 45-minute interactive Cinderella especially for schools, and another for residential and care homes. The show is packed full of singing, dancing and audience participation.

Schools and care facilities can book and then in December they will be able to watch their digital show for unlimited viewings for 20 days in December.

She added: "We are thrilled to have been able to find a way to bring pantomime to facilities that are not allowing visitors of any kind. We are even making sure those shielding and at home isolating can share the fun as we are encouraging the school to send the link home for any children who cannot attend the main show.

"It's a really tricky time for businesses and, as of yet, mine and a lot of the arts haven't received any financial support of any kind. The government does not appear to care.

"It's really down to communities to pull together and support each other, I'll definitely be buying local this Christmas and really encourage everyone to do the same and support their local businesses the best they can. We are really hoping to spread a lot of joy this Christmas."

To book the online show phone 07736 700849 go to the website www.evalongproductions.co.uk.

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