The St. Michael's pantos

Christmas is a time of hustle and bustle, of school concerts, bazaars, parties but one thing is now missing from Pembroke's festive season, an event which was once awaited with great anticipation and was as popular as Pembroke Fair. That event was the St. Michael's Panto.

St. Michael's Hall is empty at the moment. It was bought by Pembrokeshire County Council so that the back extension could be demolished in order to carry out road improvements at East End Square. It now faces an uncertain future, but in times past it could be said to have been the hub of the community, and scene of amateur dramatics on a big scale. So when I sought to find out more about these legendary productions I asked the man himself, Mr. Panto, Steve James who was for many years their producer.

Steve told me he was involved with the panto for 12 years, happy times when his involvement was such that the stage had become almost a second life to him.

"I was born into a farming family and farmed at Lamphey Park. I can well remember after a full day's work driving the couple of miles down to St. Michael's schoolroom for rehearsals; I often think of it as my other life.

Jack and the Beanstalk

"My involvement goes back to the 1960s when I was involved with the St. Michael's Amateur Dramatic Society. Pantomimes had been performed at St. Michael's Hall long before then. It was Rev. Roy Doxy who suggested that we revive the Christmas panto and with Rev. R. C. Davies's blessing we went ahead with 'Jack And The Beanstalk'. We had a good team: Rev. Doxy produced and Margarate Waters directed the music and trained the children dancers with the help of a few parents.

"I played the dame, Dame Twankey, in that first production and sang my first public song. Bit nerve-racking but, after a lot of encouragement from Margarate, sang 'Ma He's Making Eyes At Me'. I was also pushed out in front of tabs to cover scene changes with a 'go on Steve, keep them entertained'!

"Scenery was constructed by people such as Ken Cooper, John Sheppard and the children's parents and they were helped by the local site at Texaco. Bill Eastick did all the bookings. Gladys Thomas produced Cinderella the following year and then I took the job on - often playing dame as well."

A Christmas tradition

They little knew that they had started what was to become a Christmas tradition. Two nights became a full seven and such was the demand that coaches arrived from all around, from Angle to St. Florence. With casts of up to 100 it seemed as if the whole community was involved and the support was incredible. St. Michael's Sunday School had never been more popular as the children had to be in Sunday School in order to take part!

"How I ever found time for farming," Steve added, "I will never know. I would be plucking the turkeys for Christmas whilst thinking about the papier-mâché lamp we needed for Aladdin. Christmas Day would get taken over with putting the final touches to the props and costumes ready for the big opening on Boxing Day. Without the support of my family, it could not have happened. My wife Betty helped with the costume making and my three children played in the show."

Community Spirit

Steve stressed that the success of the pantos was very much a result of team work. "With wonderful support from the dramatic society and from locals, I was able to continue for 12 years to be followed by Philip Howells supported by Margarate, forever the consummate musical director."

Steve is contributing his story to our project 'Through my eyes: a community history of Pembroke and Monkton'. In looking at the story of our communities, it is so apparent that we have lost that tremendous community spirit which once existed and it is stories like his that bring this home to us. However, Steve's story does not end here as he went on to organise even bigger events, all done voluntarily.

The Pageant of the Horse

"My greatest achievement," Steve told me "was when the South Pembrokeshire Hunt asked me to produce the 'Pageant of the Horse' in Pembroke Castle. It was a big production and involved a cast of about 120 people and 80 horses of different breeds and types from all over Pembrokeshire. We did two performances each night (one floodlit) in 1975 and 1976 and played to over 1,000 people per night.

"I admit to being petrified that first night," he added, "when I saw a queue six abreast stretching from the castle gate to the mill bridge!"

Again, this production was a huge undertaking which put a big strain on his farming life. He was grateful for the support he received which enabled him to carry on and told me about the time when, much to his relief, two good farmer friends turned up with tractors and mowed his 40 acres of hay "now that's friendship for you!"

While a video recording was made of the pageant, we do not have any still photographs. Does any one have any? If so, please contact me so that we can make copies.

Contact

If you have any stories or photographs for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk

Next events

We meet in the New Year on Saturday, January 5, 10.30 to 1, at Monkton Priory Church Hall for a coffee morning and exhibition 'The Story of Pembroke' accompanied by a slide show.

Friday evening January 18 will be quiz night at 7.30 pm (£3.50 includes buffet)

Unfortunately, because of the scale and financial outlay, this event could not be repeated.