Every Christmas for the last decade, Ben Roddy has put on a colourful array of frocks and wigs and slapped on the make-up.

As Kent's leading pantomime dame, he's strutted his stuff and delivered side-splitting gags to become one the best- loved characters on the festive stage.

His hilarious performances at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury are one of the county's panto highlights, making him a firm favourite with audiences, young and old.

But the cancellation of the production of Jack and the Beanstalk in the wake of on-going pandemic restrictions has proved a big blow for him and the regular cast.

And he admits he will sorely miss it and the joy it brings to thousands who enjoy the spectacle.

Marlowe bosses and show producer Paul Hendy reluctantly took the decision to pull the plug on the panto, which needs months of planning and rehearsals as well as financing, because there is no firm government indications on when such audience gatherings can resume.

"I'm really disappointed but to those of us in the industry, it's not a surprise because live performance under the current social distancing regulations just isn't possible," said Ben. "So I suppose on that basis it was bound to a happen."

"But the shared experience of 1,200 people laughing and cheering together as families would have been just the tonic. Now we we will just have to wait until next year when we will all be back together again."

Ben says that while the loss of work will impact on him, he is well aware that many others from all walks of life are suffering.

"I am actor and panto is what I do at Christmas so it a big blow but I'm also aware that there is barely an industry in the country that hasn't been touched by this pandemic one way or another," he said.

"I think it's important to keep a perspective and remember people have suffered healthwise and are the ones who need our support and energy."

Ben said he was still trying to supplement his income and was auditioning for commercials and other television "bits and bobs".

"As a theatre actor for 20 years it's tough because it's an industry which has basically ground to a halt," he said. "But I'm trying to maintain a sense of perspective because no one has got it easy."

But Ben also has another pre-occupation with new baby son Rudy, who is a brother to Stan which is a delight for him and his wife Kate.

"He was born a week into lockdown and it is giving me some fantastic time to spend with my family when I would have otherwise been away working."

But Ben is still hopeful some sort of smaller scale open air panto could still happen, depending on the prevailing restrictions.

"It is being talked about but is in the very early stages and we just don't know if it can develop because it's a very changing picture.

"But we will definitely be back next year with a bang and a full scale production."

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