1st Westgate-on-Sea Scouts Enjoy Magical Day at the Panto

Young people and volunteers from 1st Westgate-on-Sea Scout Group enjoyed a truly magical day today as Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and adult volunteers attended a fantastic performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Malthouse Theatre.

The theatre was filled with laughter, cheers, and excitement as the pantomime unfolded, bursting with colourful costumes, brilliant comedy, and high-energy performances that kept everyone entertained from start to finish. Sitting together near the front of the theatre added to the buzz, allowing our young people to feel fully involved in the action on stage.

One of the standout moments of the day came when Rusty, one of our adult volunteers, was selected to take part on stage as Fanny Fantastic’s Friend and also took on the role of Captain Bin Man. Rusty embraced the moment with great humour and confidence, earning huge applause from the audience and plenty of laughter from our young people, who were delighted to see one of their leaders stealing the spotlight.

We would like to pass on our huge thanks to Joseph Gardner Hodges for taking the time at the end of the show to chat with our group and allowing us to have photos with the cast. This meant so much to our young people and volunteers and was the perfect end to an already unforgettable visit. The entire cast have been truly amazing  warm, engaging, and full of energy both on and off the stage.

The experience was made even more special thanks to the welcoming and supportive theatre staff and crew, who once again ensured a smooth, safe, and enjoyable visit for everyone. The cast delivered an exceptional performance, with fantastic audience interaction that kept everyone fully engaged throughout.

Trips like this play an important role in our programme, giving young people opportunities to share experiences across sections, build confidence, and create lasting memories together. With the group preparing to celebrate 100 years of Scouting in Westgate-on-Sea, today’s visit felt especially meaningful and highlighted the strong community connections we continue to build.

After such a successful and enjoyable day, there was plenty of excited chatter on the journey home  with many already hoping for another pantomime adventure next year.