Dramatic Society’s Christmas panto will have to find a new home in 2013

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Disappointed thespians are putting on a brave face, after the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society lost its traditional yule venue of City Hall for next year’s Christmas panto.

“I think it will be the first time since the late 1960s,” said BMDS President Than Butterfield. “I’m disappointed, and I know quite a few of our members are actually shocked this has happened.”

The group enjoys a close and long-standing relationship with the Corporation of Hamilton.

“It was quite a blow to us. In years gone past, we would have got a phone call.”

However, Mr Butterfield conceded, “City Hall owns the space, and someone got in there ahead of us”.

This December, the BMDS will put on ‘Aladdin’ at City Hall — but a change in the booking policy caught them off guard for next year, when another group will use the venue for a musical, ‘Santa Baby’.

Drama Chairman Jo Shane said productions had traditionally been booked a year ahead, but the rule had changed — and the BMDS only found out too late.

Although members are surprised at not being notified, Ms Shane said she took it in her stride.

“Some feel it would have been nice if they had called us and told us of the change. Otherwise we would still be assuming.”

Nonetheless, she added: “The Corporation are being very kind to us. They could have charged us mega bucks for renting Fort Hamilton for ‘Macbeth’, and instead gave us a very reasonable deal.

“They changed their policy somewhat. Maybe it’s something that we overlooked.”

The 2013 Christmas Pantomime will be held in the BMDS’s Daylesford Theatre on Washington Street. According to Mr Butterfield, the show will be written to take the smaller venue into account.

l Useful website: www.bmds.bm.

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