Cast Theatre teams up with local hospital for a special live panto performance

Cast in Doncaster have put on a special live performance of their Christmas Panto, Cinderella for patients, staff and visitors at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals.

The live-stream of the panto was set up for the third year running so that children staying in hospital over the festive period wouldn’t miss out on the show. Featuring glittering costumes, amazing sets and effects and hilarious characters, the performance of Cinderella had everyone watching at the hospital singing along.

Spending time in hospital throughout the Christmas period can be challenging for patients. While ward areas are always busy and activities are planned to entertain around treatments, patients can miss out on festive happenings. By bringing panto to the hospital, both organisations helped to deliver a little seasonal cheer to staff, patients and visitors alike.

Richard Parker, Chief Executive at DBTH, said: “For the third year-running, I am delighted that we have been able to work with Cast in Doncaster to bring a bit of festive cheer to our patients. Throughout the holiday season our staff try their very best to cheer up those in our care, however most would prefer to be at comfortable at home, rather than in a hospital bed. We hope by screening this pantomime we hope to have shared a little bit of the festive spirit with our patients.

“I want to thank our partners at Cast and the talented cast performing the pantomime, as well as the IT team at the Trust who have worked hard to make sure this can happen.”

The show was screened in day and activity rooms on the hospital’s wards and patients had the opportunity to watch it on their own phones, tablets and laptops.

Extending the festivities to members of Team DBTH, the pantomime was also screened to more than 100 off-duty staff, and their children, in the hospital’s Lecture Theatre, raising £200 for charity in the process.​ With a Cast team member on-hand, the audience were in fine voice and even had the opportunity to get involved with various interactive elements of the show.

Deborah Rees, Director at Cast, said: “We are thrilled to be streaming our panto out into the hospitals for the third year running. Christmas is all about creating happy memories and creating traditions and we are honoured that we can provide a little bit of Christmas magic to people who find themselves unwell at this time of year, or to staff who are working tirelessly to provide care to those who need it most.”

Already looking towards 2020, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals and Cast in Doncaster will be working together in the coming 12 months to ensure the pantomime returns for a fourth year.