Lowestoft: Behind the scenes of Players' Snow White panto

With a cast of more than 30 performers, multiple scene changes and just a few days before the curtains are raised for The Lowestoft Players’ pantomime Snow White, The Players’ Wardrobe Team are working tirelessly to ensure that everyone shines on stage.

Led by Diana Richards, Linda Goodhand - who has been stitching for more than 25 years, Kim Simpson, Sue Mobbs and Jenny Wright make up the rest the team.

Between them they have over 100-years’ experience of creating costumes for the entire cast.

Snow White will be performed by the Lowestoft Players from January 21 to Sunday, January 29 at The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft (Image: Stephen Wilson)

Kim Simpson, who has been stitching for the Lowestoft Players for more than 25 years, became involved when her children were part of the popular performing society.

She said: "The Lowestoft Players used to hire all costumes.

"Hiring costumes is rather expensive so, apart from the villagers’ and finale costumes, we make the rest ourselves."

The small but very productive team re-uses, re-purposes and recycles as much as possible to make certain that every single cast member has perfectly fitting costumes, sometimes adapting donated items and charity shop finds.

Mrs Simpson described who comes up with the colourful pantomime costumes.

She said: "Sometimes it’s the director of the production.

"But more often than not we are given a verbal description of what is required and the rest is left to us – there are very few sewing patterns in our workshop!"

Although she usually concentrates on the wardrobe for junior performers, for this production Mrs Simpson has also been working on a very special creation for Dame Lizzie Crust, one of the main characters.

She said: "Without giving too much away, I’ve used an old quilt which I found in my loft and a cut-price waffle throw plus more hand stitches than I care to remember to make this one.

"I’ve been working on it at home, unfortunately it’s resulted in an abundance of fluff in just about every room of the house.

"Hopefully it is worth it though to see the reaction from the audience as Dame Lizzie steps on stage."

Snow White is at The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft from Saturday, January 21 to Sunday, January 29.

For tickets contact The Marina Theatre Box Office on 01502 533200 or visit the Theatre’s website – marinatheatre.co.uk