THIS year’s pantomime at the Spotlight Theatre in Hoddesdon has been cancelled due to “operational issues”, a councillor has said reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Snow White had been due to run between December 11 and December 30, but the council-owned theatre will now host a series of “alternative events” instead, with panto ticket holders set to receive refunds.

Cllr Pierce Connolly, cabinet member for culture at Broxbourne Borough Council, told a meeting on Wednesday (November 5): “It’s with regret that we’ve had to take the difficult decision to cancel this year’s panto at the Spotlight.

“This was due to operational issues that were outside of our control.

“We worked hard to find alternative solutions to allow the panto to continue, but unfortunately, in the extremely limited time that we had, no appropriate solution could be found, and the difficult decision to cancel had to be made.

“I’m very aware that those who had booked to see the show may be disappointed, and I want them to know that if there was a way for us to deliver a quality panto this year, we absolutely would have done.

“Officers are in the process of directly contacting all ticket holders who will receive a full refund for their purchase.

“The Spotlight is a brilliant venue, it has so much potential, so we took the initiative to fill the Christmas programme with a series of alternative events, ranging from disco nights to popular festive tribute acts, a children’s show and many more events.

“The team has done a great job at getting these in the diary, and I’m pleased to see that ticket sales are already looking positive for these events.”

A notice on the Spotlight’s website said Snow White had been cancelled “due to logistical and operational circumstances beyond our control”. 

“The decision to cancel was based purely on operational factors and was in no way related to the cast, creative team, or the quality of their work,” it added.

Events now scheduled at the Spotlight next month include an Abba-Merry Christmas event on December 19, a Magic of Motown Christmas Party on  December 20 and a K-Pop Christmas Party on December 22.

Dick Whittington, a separate pantomime performed by the Broxbourne Theatre Company, will go ahead as planned from January 7 to 11.