I starred in Leeds' pantomime and found out just how important family really is - on stage and off stage

Going to the pantomime as a child at Christmas was a family staple in our house growing up.

We’d always go in that lull between Christmas Day and New Year and it was precious time spent with my mum, dad and little sister.

I can still remember the year Mr Blobby decided to use my mum as the butt of all his jokes in Cinderella.

And the year my little sister was so scared of Aladdin that my poor dad spent most of the time consoling her every time it got slightly noisy.

These are treasured memories that our family talk about three decades as we still laugh about our shared experiences.

And the word family is clearly right at the heart of pantomime life. Be that for the thousands of families, just like mine, who love watching the onstage antics through to the connections created backstage.

I went backstage - and on stage - at Sleeping Beauty to find out what happens on and off stage to create these incredible memories for generations.

Family was a word that came through time and time again, be that the bond created between the actors, actresses and the entire crew backstage to keep powering through performances through to the importance of bringing families together in the crowds.

Leading man Jez Edwards met his wife while starring in panto in Leeds and mother and daughter duo Helen Shippin and Kath Harrison are the glue that holds everything together behind the curtain.

Jez told the Yorkshire Evening Post: ”Leeds has given me everything.

“I had never been to Leeds the first year I got here and obviously I’ve never been able to leave since as this is my 16th year.

“The first year I met my wife here who was playing the fairy at the time and since then we’ve become Yorkshire together.

“We’ve got two children and a family up here. It’s given me everything. Panto and Christmas is just family to me.”

Meanwhile Helen, who is in charge of wardrobe with her mum Kath, added: “Panto is a massive part of my life.

“I’ve been doing panto since I was 14 and I’m now 43. I’ve done it every year apart from Covid.

“It just means the world to me and I love being part of the panto family.

“It’s such a wonderful experience of seeing all the young children come in and its their first experience of pantomime and that is just so magical and special.

“It’s so nice to bring my nieces and nephews to pantomime and see them enjoy it and know that Auntie Helen is working on stage.”

What struck me as I arguably had the best seat in the house was the trust everyone placed in each other behind the scenes. It was as much choreographed backstage as it was on stage.

Everyone seamlessly knew where they needed to be at the exact time ready to step on stage through to the directors backstage orchestrating the special effects.

It’s a tightly run ship at Leeds Carriageworks as I found out when my costume needed an entire new hem stitching to suit my short stature. I’ve never seen anyone as sharp as Kath - it was there in a mere matter of minutes.

For Aaron Steadman, who plays Dame Dolly, it really is a military operation to get his outfits ready as they get more extravagant as the show goes on - including a Hotpoint Washing Machine that he even designed himself.

He added: “The tradition of pantomime is so special. It’s been around for hundreds of years and it’s never lost popularity.

“It’s usually the first time a child might come to the theatre and it’s a whole generation of next theatre goers.

“It’s the family and togetherness on stage and obviously in the audience, I just love it.”

And soon it became my turn to take to the stage as part of a week-long celebration to mark 135 years of the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Stepping into the spotlight with the audience cheering - and knowing my poor husband was up in the rafters looking on - is a memory I shall treasure.

And it reminded me of being a young child in the audience once again laughing at my mum’s poor misfortune of being singled out on the front row.

Pantomime truly is a special place with family right at its heart.