Boo the baddies and cheer on the heroes as British Pantomime returns to Milton this holiday season with a brand-new show from the Brightside Players.
This year’s production, The Princess and the Pop Tart, brings music, magic, and plenty of laughs to the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton. The story follows a princess and a peasant who swap lives for a day, with fairy magic sending the adventure spinning in unexpected directions.
Publicist and Executive Board member Amanda Massey says this year’s show is one of their strongest yet. “There is so much heart,” she says. “Every single cast member has put in so much effort and hard work. Every fine little detail has been thought through.”
One of her proudest moments is watching the cast grow year after year. “We’ve got kids in our show who were young little fairies a few years ago in Peter Pan,” she says. “Now they’ve got bigger roles, they have more lines, and they’re really showing up and showing their true colours on stage.”
Massey says audiences can expect big musical moments and nostalgic surprises. “There are a couple of scenes that will take you back to the nineteen eighties and nineteen nineties with classic hit songs that will have people grooving in their seats and singing along,” she says. She also teases a moment that will have kids cheering: “One of our villains finally gets what she deserves, and I think the kids will absolutely love that.”
The Brightside Players are known for their community spirit, and Massey emphasizes how special the rehearsal process has been this year. “It’s been fantastic. Whether it’s trying on costumes for the first time or cutting the wood that will create the sets, it’s been such a communal production at every step.”
As a parent herself, Massey encourages families to experience the show together. “There is something truly special about the magic of live theatre and seeing that through your children’s eyes,” she says. “If you’re looking to create a special holiday tradition, have a fun date night, or just experience something different as a family, you want to come and see Panto.”
She adds that unlike a movie theatre, the audience gets to be part of the action. “We’re not going to tell you to shush. We want you to engage with the actors on stage, because that makes the whole experience come to life.”
Show Times
The Princess and the Pop Tart runs from December 5 to December 7, 2025 at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton (Minmaxx Hall), with multiple showtimes throughout the weekend.
Tickets are $32.50 for adults and $25.50 for children, taxes and fees included.
Get your tickets here: https://www.firstontarioartscentremilton.ca/en/shows-and-events/the-princess-and-the-pop-tart.aspx
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