Take a well-loved fairy tale, tell it with affection and humour, and children all over the world are fascinated and enthralled.  Ask them to hiss the Demon, cheer the handsome hero and shout their warnings to the good guys when the bad guys are around, and you are starting to build the noisy, excited atmosphere which is Harlequin Pantomime Productions.
 
If it strikes you as odd that the hero is played by a good looking woman with to-die-for legs, and his mother is played by a tough looking man (who'll sock any would be admirer in the jaw) well, its just another piece of this exciting  jigsaw.  Throw in some good tunes, some bad jokes, a touch of illusion, a dancing cow, and lots of slapstick, and you have a great big glorious Harlequin Pantomime Production.

Harlequin Pantomime Productions  was started in 2006 by a group of expereinced people who all love Amateur Dramatics.  Over the past four years Harlequin Pantomime Productions has built up an excellent reputation for providing top class, quality Pantomime productions.

The company produces an annual Pantomime which performs at our home, Perton Civic Centre, for one week each January.  It’s aim being to produce a quality pantomimes that are fun for all the family which the local community can enjoy and afford.  Under the leadership of our Chairman and the superb talent and effort of our Cast, Producer, Musical Director, Back-Stage and Technical Team and Front of House Management Team Harlequin Pantomime Productions continues from strength to strength enjoying sell out perfomances.
 
We are a not for profit organisation and a major part of our work is to support local charities.  Since 2006 we have supported  Whitwick  Special School, Perton Children’s safe play space, Perton Youth Group.
 
Our first production 'Treasure Island',  which opened in January 2007, was an overwhelming success and was followed by 'Puss In Boots' in 2008, 'Aladdin' in 2009 and 'Mother Goose' in 2010.

Olwen Rowley President

Olwen was honored to be asked to be President of this new and up-coming company. After 50 years in musical theatre, she was pleased to offer all of her experience. She has a particular interest with her daugter the producer and grand-daughters also taking part. As a Founding Member, she hopes that the company wil continue to grow for many years to come.

Production Team

. Janette Cole Producer & Choreographaer .

Jan's first introduction to the stage came at the tender age of four with Marilyn Harris School of Dance. She studied all types of dance including ballet, tap, national, modern and greek.  Jan has been involved with numerous amateur dramatics companies around the local area for many years doing many roles on and off stage.  Virtually her entire family are involved in theatre, her mother was a costumier, her husband is stage manager, her two daughters both go on stage and her brother is a professional thespian who has appeared in many West End Shows.  Jan is a Founding Member of Harlequin and is extremely proud of the companies fast growing reputation for putting on excellent high quality shows.

. Will Joy Musical Director .

William Joy was born and raised in Birmingham where he still resides, studying oboe at the UCE's prestigious Conservatorie in Birmingham City Centre. He began playing the piano at the age of 6, and proceeded to study oboe at the age of 8. Whilst his career is still in it's early stages, he has played with the likes of the CBSO's youth orchestra, under the baton of Sakari Orano and the British Police Symphony Orchestra in various venues around the country from the Symphony Hall in Birmingham to the Royal Festival Hall in London's South Bank.

Management Team

. Paul Bowman Chairman .	Paul has been performing for most of his life!   From the Nativity Play at church aged four to Pantomime Dame at 44!!  Originally from Yorkshire, Paul moved to the Midlands to attend University and never left!!   He has taken leads in numerous plays and musicals such as "The Importance Of Being Earnest", "Scrooge", "A Man For All Seasons", "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Macbeth", "HMS Pinafore", "Pirates Of Penzance" to name but a few.  He has been doing pantomime for over 20 years and has played Dame for numerous companies for the last 18 years with.  A Founding Member of Harlequin he brings with him a wealth of enthusiasm, talent and experience.
. Peter Pingree Vice Chairman .	Peter is one of the Founder Members of the company and has been involved in theatre both amateur and professional for nearly 50 years. Not only does he perform on stage but also helps design and build the scenery, the love of theatre first started as it did for many others with involvement in school productions and developed from there into several local companies both on the stage performing and also sourcing props and scenery, served on many committees in varying forms and has built up over the years many friends most of whom now seem to be members of the company. He is proud to be a member of Harlequin, it is growing into a closely knit family where everyone works together for the common good.
. Richard Bourne Treasurer & Front of House Manager .	Richard joined Harlequin as one of the Founder Members in 2006 and was duly appointed as Treasurer.  A family man, Richards’s wife Angie and daughter Lisa are also key players within the company, Angie as prompt and Lisa on stage.  Richard is also responsible for the Front of House during show week.  It was solely due to Richard’s hard work that Harlequin received the Lottery Awards for All grant.  With his valuable financial knowledge and keen enthusiasm, he has steered the group, enabling it to be self financing and with his keen eye, makes sure that Harlequin will continue to provide excellent value for money for all who eagerly watch the shows
. Ian Jones Company Secretary .	Playing the recorder in the School play was Ian's first experience of performing in front of an audience. He has continued to do so ever since with various levels of success! He was instrumental in setting up a theatre company called Esprit Nouveou which specialised in performing new works. All of these were written and produced by himself. Ian has played many diverse roles over the years including Widow Twanky, Dame Trot, Wishee Washee, Henry Higgins in Pygmalion and the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. He has been involved with Harlequin from the very first show and is extremely proud of what the company as achieved and is very much looking forward to greater things to come.
. Pam Shee Ticket Secretary .	Pam made her stage debut at the age of 15 in a school production of ‘Scrooge’ and followed in pantomime with Youth Clubs.  She is a Life Member of South Staffs Musical Theatre Company having served on committee as member, Treasurer, Secretary and was their Ticket Secretary for 30 years. Pam became involved with Harlequin in 2007.  She became Ticket Secretary in 2008 and is amazed with the success of the company as ticket sales are continuous from panto to panto.  This year 3 performances are already sold out and 1 performance has limited tickets available.  Harlequin are a big happy family and support each other throughout.
. Chris Clarke Child Licensing .	Chris first became interested in amateur dramatics when her daughter joined Old Fallings Players at the age of twelve.  Mom and Dad followed a year later.  Chris spent the next sixteen years running raffles for the company.  After leaving she spent two years doing the same for another pantomime company.  She left the company to become a Founder Member of Harlequin along with her two sons who work as backstage crew.  She is very proud of the company’s success and is sure we will continue to produce shows of the high quality that has made us the success we are.  Chris still runs the raffles; she makes cakes for social events and is the Child Licensing Officer for the company.  Most importantly she provides the refreshment’s for rehearsals.
. Ian Clarke Membership Secretary .	Ian has been involved in amateur dramatics for the past 18 years since the age of 8, working back stage for numerous different theatrical companies in the local area.  He is the Assistant Stage Manager for Harlequin and has been working with Andy Cole the Stage Manager for 8 years now and have worked backstage together on 15 shows forming a professional and reliable team.  Being a Founding Member of Harlequin, Ian is extremely proud of what has been achieved and believes that with the talent and enthusiasm of the members of the company, Harlequin will continue to flourish and put on high quality shows to be proud of.
. Andy Cole Stage Manager .	Andy has been involved in theatre now for over ten years, having been thrown in at the deep end when his wife (the producer of this panto group) was asked if he could help out backstage. He did so, and has been smitten ever since! Andy has been with the role of "Stage Manager" for a number of other local companies including Bilston Operatic, Old Fallings Players and another pantomime company. He is looking forward to Harlequin’s fourth production of "Mother Goose" and as a Founding Member of Harlequin Pantomime Productions he looks forward to the continued success of the company and the opportunity to stage manage many, many more shows.
Chris Martin General Committee	Chris Martin, originally from Yorkshire, has been involved with Harlequin Pantos for the last four years, becoming involved after years of watching various performances. His wife, Alison, became the dame’s dresser and Chris's involvement has progressed from there, first helping behind the scenes as stage hand and also helped out with the making and painting of scenery. For the last 2 years he has been part of the lighting team, mainly operating the follow spot lights on performance nights. He is much a jack of all trades and will enthusiastically help out within the company wherever he can.  A chef by trade, his skills come in very useful on barbeque events and feeding the company on matinee day! Chris hopes to be able to continue to contribute to the production company for many more years to come.
Martin Deane General Committee	Awaiting write up