Guy Owen

It’s the return of pantomime season again (oh no it’s not!) in Lincoln, with a number of fun-filled performances taking place across the next few weeks.

The Lincolnite has put together a round-up of all of the pantomimes taking place across the city this Christmas.

Robin Hood and Maid Marian- Winter in Sherwood

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Running from December 11 until Christmas Eve, Robin Hood and Maid Marian – Winter in Sherwood explores the classic tale in a more festive backdrop at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre main auditorium.

All of the cast are third year drama students at the University of Lincoln with professionals producing the family Christmas show.

The show is a full length two-hour musical.

Tickets are priced at £10 for children and £15 for adults and can be purchased here. 

Where: Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, University of Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Times: 
December 13, 14 and 18- 10am and 1pm
December 16 (also 6pm), 17, 20, 21, 22 (also 7pm), 23 (also 7pm), 24 (also 10am) – 2pm

Aladdin

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The NewTheatre Royal Lincoln will be welcoming Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother star Sandi Bogle as Sultana Tangine and former X Factor contestant Andy Abraham as the Genie.

This performance of Aladdin is expected to be all singing and all dancing with multiple references to the hit Disney version.

Aladdin will is running now until January 7 and tickets vary from £12 to £22 and can be purchased here. 

Where: New Theatre Royal Lincoln, Clasketgate, LN2 1JJ
Times:

• December 6: 11am
• December 7: 10am
• December 8: 7pm
• December 9: 2pm and 7pm
• December 11, 12 and 13: 10am and 1pm
• December 14: 7pm
• December 15: 1pm and 7pm
• December 16: 11am, 3pm and 7pm
• December 17: 2pm and 6pm
• December 18: 7pm
• December 19, 20, 21 and 22: 2pm and 7pm
• December 23: 11am, 3pm and 7pm
• December 24: 2pm and 6pm
• December 26: 11am, 2pm and 6pm
• December 27, 28, and 29: 2pm and 7pm
• December 30: 11am, 3pm and 7pm
• December 31: 11am, 2pm and 6pm
• January 1 and 3: 2pm and 6pm
• January 2: 2pm
• January 5: 11am and 7pm
• January 6: 11am, 2pm and 7pm

Jack and the Beanstalk

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

This year will be the 10th anniversary of Lincoln Drill Hall’s pantomimes and is expected to be the biggest yet.

Jack and the Beanstalk will be directed, once again, by Jamie Marcus Productions and he told The Lincolnite earlier this year that this year’s show will be “our biggest one yet”.

The Golden Goose was also launched in November and claims to be the biggest special effect ever seen in Lincolnshire.

Performances start on December 5 until January 2 and tickets are priced between £13 to £18 and can be purchased here. 

Where: Lincoln Drill Hall, Free School Lane, LN2 1EY
Times:

• December 8, 9, 15,  : 6pm
• December 16: 2pm and 6pm
• December 17: 6pm
• December 19: 6pm,
• December 20, 21, 22, : 2pm, 6pm
• December 23, 24, 26: 6pm
• December 27: 10:30am and 2pm
• December 28, 29: 4pm and 6pm
• December 30: 6pm
• December 31: 2pm
• January 2: 10:30am and 2pm

Cinderella – Adult Pantomime

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A Lincoln burlesque group will be putting on a ‘naughty’ pantomime of Cinderella this Christmas at St Botolph’s Church Hall.

Money raised from the shows, which will be on December 15 and December 16, will go towards the Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust.

The pantomime is strictly for people aged 18 and over and contains strong language and adult themes.

Tickets are priced from £5 and can be purchased here. 

Where: St Botolph’s Church, High Steet, LN5 8JB
Times: December 15 and 16: 7:30pm

Two charities have generously donated a £30,000 rehabilitation machine to Lincoln County Hospital, inspired by a remarkably determined stroke patient.

The PENTAX nasendoscopy machine can look up the nose and down to the back of the throat of stroke patients, helping specialist speech and language therapists to assess, treat and manage swallowing disorders of people resulting from a stroke.

The donation to Lincoln County Hospital’s stroke unit was inspired by Naomi Wentzell, who suffered a stroke in 2015.

The 46-year-old was at work when she collapsed and was rushed to Lincoln County Hospital.

She said: “When I woke up I was told I had suffered a stroke, but I was suffering from locked-in syndrome.

“I could hear and understand everything, but the only part of the body I could move were my eyes. It was so frightening and also frustrating.”

Naomi made a remarkable recovery thanks to the treatment and care at Lincoln County Hospital.

She was on the stroke unit for seven weeks and five days, but the team believe she could have gone home even sooner if a machine similar to the one donated had been available.

Stroke survivor Naomi Wentzell inspired the new machine which will help with patients’ recovery.

She added: “I was so stubborn and wasn’t going to be beaten by the stroke. When I left I was able to walk out and I was talking. It just took a while to get my strength back.”

Naomi now volunteers on the stroke unit for the Stroke Association, talking to other patients and helping to reassure and advise them.

Friends of Lincoln Hospitals Association and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Charitable Funds have made the donation.

It can also record and play back images to help with therapy and training.

Physiotherapist Alwyn Sproul from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust says the new machine is going to help patients in their recovery.

She said: “By having this new machine on the stroke unit it will improve outcomes, reduce length of stay and improve quality of life for our patients. It really is going to make a huge difference to patients.

“This impacts on more than just swallowing. Patients are able to participate in other rehabilitation, for example with the occupational therapists and physiotherapists more easily if they are not tethered to a feeding tube and a drip. Thank you to everybody who has made this possible. We are so grateful to have this very special machine.”