Time is of the essence now in the last few days leading up to the Xmas Advent Calendar Xmas Day Prize Draw!
Remember – to be included in the Draw, you need to Follow my blog AND Leave a comment. It’s been a great way for me to connect with some fabulous new bloggers and I’m looking forward to continuing sharing posts and ideas with all my ‘blogging buddies’ in 2017!
Xmas is about ‘traditions’ and I think I’ll be continuing my Advent Calendar Xmas Giveaway as one of my ‘traditions’ for 2017 too..
Talking of traditions… On Sunday evening, Xmas truly started with a trip to the Xmas Pantomime at a wonderful theatre called The Plaza, in Stockport (which is a town in the suburbs of Manchester).
The Plaza is a magnificent landmark building in the Town Centre and sadly for many years ran as a Bingo Hall and lay empty for a while. However, after a spectacular Lottery Funding Grant, a massive restoration programme began and Phase 1 of the work was completed in a wonderful way, to restore the building back into an Art Deco Super Cinema and Variety Theatre. The building is ‘classic art deco’ style and was originally built in the 1932 and has been lovingly restored, in keeping with that decadent era.
Visiting the theatre is always a magical experience and our trip to the Peter Pan Pantomime was no exception.
The traditional ‘ambience’ of the theatre together with a fun performance with lots of dancing, singing and ‘spraying of water’ into the audience by a great cast, was a fantastic introduction to Pantomime for my youngest granddaughter who has been too young to go in previous years. I watched the smiles and laughter on her face almost more than I watched the cast members…
She did wonder as you may just about make out in the video ‘elf talk’, how this was going to work when the scene on stage was just ‘wallpaper’.. After the show finished, she asked about ‘how did they make it work with REAL people Nanny?… Kids are so used to films/TV/Computer Screens… and ‘REAL PEOPLE’ are now the ‘unusual’! How times change…I’m glad to keep this tradition of ‘real people’ alive!
She joined in ‘loudly’ to all the “He’s Behind You” moments (for those who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing a pantomime, this is where the children in the audience shout back at the cast members to let them know the ‘baddy’ is on stage – I admit I joined in too as my ‘inner child’ came out!).
We weren’t allowed to film once the pantomime started but in the tiny video clip below, you’ll get an idea of what the inside of the theatre looks like and as you can just about see, but definitely can hear.. there is an organ and organist that rise up from below the stage to entertain the audience before the performance and during the interval.. This just adds to the magic and traditional atmosphere.
During the day, the theatre restaurant is open and serves ‘Afternoon Tea’ in the most traditional way.. the waitresses and waiters are all dressed in traditional 1930’s costume and the décor and tables are laid in traditional 1930’s style.. also a wonderful experience if you live in or visit the City of Manchester. Jump on a train from any of the City of Manchester Railway Stations and you can get a train into Stockport which only takes 10 minutes.. Definitely worth a visit for a fabulous and truly TRADITIONAL Afternoon Tea Experience..
The Theatre offers true variety and hosts concerts, cinema shows, pantomimes and can also be hired by locals to stage dance school performances etc. Indeed, I have watched my 2 granddaughters perform in their first dance shows on that stage so they’ve been lucky enough to see ‘behind the scenes’.. one up on Nanny!
To find out more about the restoration of this magnificent theatre, here’s a link to The Plaza website.. http://stockportplaza.co.uk/heritage-restoration/restoration-update/
Take a moment to watch my tiny YouTube video clip and let the tradition of your Xmas begin too!
Xmas Giveaway Day 21 – Big Reveal….
So here goes with Day 21 of my new Xmas Giveaway Tradition.. What’s in store for today?
Oh gosh… I hope that box isn’t empty?
Phew… No it’s got another great gift.. PUR Correcting Primer Cream.. To make sure you’re makeup stays perfectly in place!
This product can also be purchase in Marks & Spencers (no affiliation) – £24 for a 30 ml tube..
http://www.marksandspencer.com/pr-minerals-correcting-primer-30ml/p/p22263843?&pdpredirect
Such a beautiful theatre and what fun!!!
I LOVE this, and can’t wait to do such things with my future angels. Hugs to you all. <3
Ahh – thanks Karen.. It is a magical thing to do with little ones.. I’ve taken a fair few over the years with my own children, my nephews and nieces and now my granddaughters.. and they always love it! Hugs returned with love!! xx
<3
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Wendy nice read on plaza Stockport I live near to this in Cheadle. This world is too small😊. And count me in😄
Yep… small world Sumith.. Have you ever been to The Plaza.. if not I can definitely recommend a trip – it’s got a really magical feel! x
I been to plaza couple of months back for a show and really enjoyed it!
Fab Sumith.. You’ll have to treat the family to a lovely Afternoon Tea there sometime! x
Love it Wendy! Please enter me in your contest 🙂 🙂 🙂
BTW I watched the video & the sound was in fast forward. Did you mean to do that, my friend?
Much love to you and your sweet grandkids!
I’m delighted to enter you into the draw Debbie! Thanks so much for watching the video.. Yep- I did speed up the video to double speed just so it would give a ‘flavour’ of the trip rather than the detail.. If I’m honest…. my voice sounded horrible on the video .. I sounded like a true very broad Mancunian haha! Much better speeded up! x
Ha ha ha! Wendy that is great. <3 So lovely to see you all. Much love. And thanks for entering me into the draw
Hahaha x xx
What a wonderful tradition Wendy! Just wonderful. My hubby and I use to try to hit some Christmas musicals but the tickets are steep and the shows are very long to sit through (fibromyalgia thing ;() But I may start looking at the little theaters, we live in Minneapolis! This is where the action is… I think your assessment of now “real” people are not the norm is spot on! Something I will think about for my nieces and nephews. -Kim
Oh I do hope you manage a trip to a local theatre Kim.. I was so surprised about her observations about the ‘real people’.. it was so sweet but almost shocking in a way too.. they almost live in a ‘cartoon’ world in many respects nowadays.. and my granddaughters actually do lots of ‘non computer’ activities so imagine how it is for the kids who spend hours and hours on computers every day… Thanks so much for commenting as always Kim – I really do appreciate your lovely feedback and the insight into your world over in Minneapolis too! xx
Thank you for your kind words… I will make it to a theatre and I believe I will be bringing a few ‘kids’ with me!
Wonderful! I look forward to hearing about it😉☺x
Count me in! I hope you are having a great time with your family!!!
We’re really enjoying the ‘true spirit’ of Xmas this year which is lovely! Thanks so much and of course your already in that draw – Your name is ‘in the hat’! xx