I love a bit of panto

Today, I went to the pantomime.

I absolutely ADORE the pantomime - it's one of my favourite things EVER.

This year, it was Peter Pan, starring a rather famous judge from Strictly Come Dancing (A-MA-ZING, hint hint!)

I always go with my god mother, her grandchildren, her friend and sister and nephew - so a pretty big group!

It is just so much fun! For one, the kids all love it. They laugh, and shout stuff out and wave around those overpriced flashy sword things. For two, I love it! I get transported back to when I was a child, and yeah I'm a teenager and I'm meant to be all cool, but for those few magical hours, I laugh at all the silly jokes, I boo the baddies, and generally just get caught up in the magic that is panto.

I love all the clichés - the huge costumes, the 'he's behind you!', the slapstick comedy - I feel like I could just watch pantomimes forever.

And every time I go, it just inspires me so much. I want to learn how to act, to dance, to sing, so that maybe one day, I could be up there, performing my heart out.

Every time I go it reminds me once again just how much I love the theatre. Because I do love it, I love everything about it. I love plays, musicals, pantomimes, dances, anything really! I love the thrill and excitement of going to a show. I love the apprehension when you in your seat and your waiting for the show to start. I love the stories, the way you can get transported to somewhere completely different from mundane reality. I love the hair, the makeup, the costumes, and how so many people backstage have worked tirelessly to make the show what it is. I love the stage, the sets, the props. I love the music, the sound effects, the singing. I love the lighting, a hundred different coloured spot lights. I love the ice cream on sale at every interval. I love how it can make you feel happy, or sad, or scared, or confused, or any emotion in the world. I love how you end up caring more about the characters you've just met than your own family. I just really really love the theatre.

And pantomimes... to me, they are just the theatre at its best. A group of extremely talented people together, performing something for the sole purpose to make people happy. I'm so glad I get to be a part of it, even if it is just watching from the audience. But you never know - maybe it will be one day, up there in a fantastic costume making people laugh and smile. Mind you, I think I'd prefer to be backstage, doing hair and makeup and such.

Anyway, if you are going to see or have seen any pantomimes, or any shows at all, I'd love to hear about it!