The "hottest" panto for 2025 is BALTIC

Baltic has all the potential to be the coolest, hottest panto in town.....in fact, the hottest panto in any town......and the perfect thing is this that town is Cumbernauld and even better that means Cumbernauld Theatre. 

At a time when the spotlight has been shining on the theatre for all the wrong reasons at the disappointment of losing multi-year funding from Creative Scotland, up pops the perfect tonic to shout, kick and scream as to just why Cumbernauld Theatre is an asset that must not be lost.

Ginger and Jester productions bring Baltic to life with a huge dollop of classic and much loved panto magic that would not look out of place on a Kings or Pavillion stage, with much of that down to the (writer) pen and direction of Jerry Taylor who packs the show full of machine gun humour, slick slapstick and a version of Twelve Days of Christmas that will likely get me ejected from the midnight carol service for replacing a partridge in a pear tree. (Go see it and you'll know why) 

Set in the snowy village of Glenfrost, it follows the story of Elspeth (Lauren O'Hare) who on the eve of her 18th birthday embarks on a mission to rescue her brother Kai who had been kidnapped by the evil Snow Queen Chillblaine (Abbie Watson) ten years prior. 

The adventure sees Elspeth joined by her good friend Sammy Slush (Jerry Taylor) who delivers an energetic performance like a science experiment between Redbull and Lucozade, along with the most wonderful Dame Agnes Avalunch (Alex Robertson), a talking snowman called Nolaff (Kathleen McClenaghan) and not forgetting them crossing paths with Jack Frost (Milly Sweeney) the evil Snow Queens lackey. 

Baltic has everything a panto should have, a strong and mighty cast, slapstick comedy, "age" spanning one liners, pop tunes, dancers and slick scene changes with a set, lighting and production design that sets a high bar for the theatre that future productions would do well to take notes about (I know I have). 

Big shout to all the staff at Cumbernauld Theatre, especially the Front of House team who tirelessly present a face for this excellent theatre facility which cannot and must not be lost to the community. 

Baltic runs until the 24th of December and is a must see production for young and old alike. Tickets on sale now 

RoswellRadio (Theatre Bloke)