Beauty and the Beast

A pantomime written by Bex Hutchings
Friday 30 January 2026 - Sunday 1 February 2026
& Friday 6 February 2026 - Saturday 7 February 2026
The Elms Primary School, Gloucester Street, Faringdon SN7 7HY
Directed by Bex Hutchings
Producer: Gary Field
Musical Director: Duncan Sinclair

Times: Performances start 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Doors open 30 minutes earlier. Each performance lasts approximately 2½ hours. Matinées on both Saturdays and the Sunday.
Tickets: Adult £14. Child (under 16) £7. No concessions. Price includes a non-refundable booking fee. Tickets will be available from our Online Box Office from Sunday 30 November 2025.
Other information: There will be an interval of about twenty minutes between acts during which refreshments will be available for purchase at the bar and (at evening shows) the raffle drawn. Cash or card accepted.

A brand new original pantomime by FDS’s own Bex Hutchings. She came up with the idea driving home during last years panto rehearsals, a single song sparked the flame for the entire show!

Be our guest in Little Snoring, where Belle is not living her best life. No friends, no good books and chased relentlessly by the repugnant Hugh. Belle is looking for adventure and boy, does she find it! Drawing inspiration from the iconic animated film; enchanted castles, living furniture and a brooding Beast all beckon in this one of a kind adventure. With dad jokes, poo jokes and a romance for the ages there is something for everyone in this tale as old as time retold.

Join us from the 30th January and see if you can guess which song in the show was the catalyst for the whole production!

Readthrough – Monday 6th October 2025 – 7pm at the United Church. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration.

Auditions for any specific roles – Thursday 9th October 2025 – 7pm at the United Church. Sides/songs for the auditions will be sent out on Tuesday 7th, via email.

Rehearsals – Start Monday 13th October 2025 at 7pm then every Monday (+ Thursdays for principal parts) at the United Church.

(Please note that rehearsal details may change nearer the time.)

There is no rehearsals Thursday 18th December.
Monday 5th January at the church 7-10 all cast.
Thursday 8th January 7:30-9:30 all cast at the church.

The remaining rehearsals moved to the Elms Primary School and all cast Monday 12th 7-10, Thursday 15th 7-10, Monday 19th 7-10, Thursday 22nd 7-10, Sunday 25th 1:30-5:00 (tech/dress rehearsal), Monday 26th 630-10 (final tech/ dress rehearsal.

Production No.212 - 7 shows will be performed over 5 days. Production created and presented by member(s) of the dramatic society.