IF you go down to The Victoria Hall Theatre this February half-term, you might be surprised at what you find as a new children’s show is being performed there written, directed and performed by two local performers. Jim Thompson and Amy Jaggers are both regulars on the stage at the theatre in Old Harlow but this is the first time they will be performing their own work there.

“The last time we were on stage together here, it was in a very different play about businesses taking over council housing in London… you couldn’t get further away if you tried.” said Jim Thompson. “I had recently left my position as Entertainments Manager at Willows Activity Farm, near St. Albans but still had a desire to entertain children with fun shows. Having worked with Amy for quite a number of years and knowing how talented she is, it was an obvious partnership when looking at putting a new sort of show together.”

The result was ‘Goldilocks and The Big Bad Wolf’, a fast paced, humour filled pastiche of a couple of children’s classics. With songs, slapstick, puppets and a strong moral message; it has many elements you would find in a traditional pantomime at a fraction of the running time. But is this the only outing for these characters?

“Well, the ultimate hope is that we can get this show turned into a children’s book and that we can start to write more shows that mix up nursery rhyme and fairy story characters together. There is so much material to tap into. In the meantime, we are taking this show around the South East, starting with The Chelmsford Cramphorn Studio last October, so watch this space!”

Tickets for ‘Goldilocks and The Big Bad Wolf’ can be bought online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/tpromotions and cost £8.50 each. Shows are at 11.30am and 2pm daily from Wednesday 20th Feb until Saturday 23rd Feb. Please note that the Thursday 21st 11.30am is a ‘relaxed’ performance for children with special needs.