A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield inspired by a famous series of books

The shutdown of theatres caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with the traditional festive pantotime season – but fans in Sheffield can still enjoy a drive-in performance of a Christmas show this year.
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The Car Park Panto is visiting Sheffield along with other locations including Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff.

The performance, which is being put on by the Birmingham Stage Company, will be of Horrible Christmas, a pantomime inspired by the series of Horrible Histories children's books by Terry Deary.

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It will tell the story of a young boy trying to save Christmas and will also explore some of the history behind the festive season.

A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images.A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images.
A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images.

Audience members will have their tickets scanned through their car windows upon arrival at the outdoor venue.

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Cars will then be parked more than two metres apart and audience members will watch the show from inside their vehicles, picking up sound from the performance via their radios.

Toilet facilities, and food and drink, will be available on site but social distancing measures will be in place.

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A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images.A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images.
A drive-in Christmas pantomime is coming to Sheffield. Picture: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images.

Horrible Histories manager Neal Foster said: “We can't wait to be back on stage in cities and towns that will be crying out for a Christmas show to entertain their families.”

The show will also be touring to Nottingham, Plymouth, Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, Exeter, Northampton and Chelmsford.

Venues and dates for the performances are yet to be announced.

Tickets for each show are priced at £45 per car.

Sheffield Theatres’ planned 2020 pantomime at the city’s Lyceum Theatre – Sleeping Beauty – has been moved to 2021.

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