Before the end of that month, White Light had supplied lighting equipment to pantomimes including Mother Goose in Bromley (lit by Graham McClusky) and Aladdin in Glasgow (lit by John Tapster). These shows were quickly joined by another Aladdin in Brighton (lit by David Howe), Snow White in Manchester (lit by John Tapster), Cinderella in Milton Keynes (lit by David Howe), Jack and the Beanstalk in Richmond (lit by Bob Bustance), Aladdin in Stoke (lit by John Tapster), Peter Pan in Wimbledon (lit by Nick Richings), and Cinderella in Woking (lit by Adrian Barnes). A further production of Cinderella played SECC in Glasgow, produced by the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts and also using equipment from White Light.
White Light also supplied some 'non-pantomime' Christmas shows, including the musical White Christmas which has successfully played in the USA for a few years and made its UK debut playing in Plymouth and then Southampton with lighting by Ken Billington; Santa Claus The Musical at the Liverpool Empire, with lighting by Colin Wood, and The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in London and on tour, lit by Tim Mitchell. The children's show The Gruffalo also returned to London for a Christmas season at the Arts Theatre, with lighting by James Whiteside.
"We re-named December 1st 'panto day'," says White Light's managing director, Bryan Raven, "as it seemed like every one of the many, many shows being prepared that day was a pantomime! Pantos are the shows that always demand extra equipment, which kept our Hire team busy, but they also need a bit of spectacle, and our Sales team have been inundated with orders for pyros and smoke."
The start of panto season was further complicated by the many other projects leaving White Light's warehouse in Wimbledon, south London, at the same time - these including the lighting equipment for Northumberland Lights, corporate and party events around London, and new West End shows including The New Statesman and Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks.
(Lee Baldock)
