Lessons have been anything but normal this year and one bunch of children have been getting workshops in pantomime.

In the run up to panto season, Robert Pearce – aka Gravesham's favourite dame, Mama G – and Lauren Mills, education and outreach officer at The Woodville, have been working virtually with local primary and secondary schools, youth groups and nurseries to give young people the opportunity to learn about the genre.

Through virtual story time workshops based on Rapunzel – The Woodville's panto this year should Covid-19 restrictions allow – and Q&A sessions, Robert has encouraged children to enjoy the story as well as teaching them about the history of pantomime, such as why the goodie always enters stage left and the baddie always comes in from the right.

Some schools have joined together to take part in the sessions, meaning young people have also had opportunity to mix, albeit virtually, with those outside of their usual circles.

Lauren said: “This year has been rather different with regards to the outreach that The Woodville has been able to deliver and how we have been able to engage with local young people.

“But we have found running this virtual programme alongside Woodville TV and our social media has still given us the opportunity for the theatre to be a part of the community and to encourage people to be involved with performing arts.

“The reaction has been amazing and I hope that in future we can make virtual learning and viewing a part of our regular programme of entertainment.”

Robert said: “If the children can’t join us in the theatre, we will join them through the cyber world.

“Gravesham is an amazing place to perform and the young people are always really engaging, especially when it comes to panto-related activities.

“The Q&A sessions have been superb and the students from local secondary schools asked some really great questions, not only about panto but about acting in general, as well as the positives and the negatives of what its like for a man to play the character of a dame.

“I hope they enjoyed the workshops and will continue to support their local theatre when we finally come out of lockdown. After all, the show must go on."

Some performances of Rapunzel have been cancelled due to Tier 3 restrictions but will hopefully start on December 17.

You can see some of the online content put together by The Woodville at www.youtube.com/WoodvilleTV

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend