Brooks Shopping Centre boosts access to festive panto

We are absolutely delighted to announce that The Brooks Shopping Centre has made a generous £1,000 donation to help local school children experience the magic of live theatre.

The Brooks, who are continuing their wonderful support of our charity as a corporate member, have pledged the funds to pay for theatre tickets for 100 primary-aged children. Thanks to this festive gesture, the students will get to watch this year’s traditional family pantomime, Puss in Boots, at Theatre Royal Winchester.

Opening doors to the magic of live theatre

Every year, our festive panto provides a brilliant, fun, and engaging introduction to the arts for young people. The production is always packed with:

• Original, catchy songs and live music
• Witty jokes and laugh‑out‑loud comedy
• Vibrant dancing and high‑energy performances
• Plentiful audience participation

Because these elements make theatre so accessible, we are incredibly grateful to the team at the shopping centre for breaking down financial barriers for local schools.

Our Fundraising Manager, Becca Moore, emphasised just how much this corporate backing means to the charity:

"This gift means a lot. Because of The Brooks Shopping Centre, local young people will get to experience the fun and magic of panto this Christmas. For some it'll be their first ever trip to the theatre, which makes it even more special. We're really grateful to The Brooks for their ongoing support."

Inspiring the next generation of theatregoers

The news was also met with celebration from the cast of Puss in Boots. Julian Eardley, who steps into the fabulous dame shoes as Dame Dolly Duster, shared how vital early theatre experiences truly are:

"How amazing of The Brooks to donate money to allow schoolchildren to experience our panto. Panto was my first experience of theatre when I was 5 years old and I still remember some of the show and the magical feeling it created in and around me. It ignited my love of live theatre at a very early age. What a brilliant gift to offer to the children of today. Hopefully Puss in Boots will inspire a future generation of theatre goers and The Brooks are helping that process along with this wonderful opportunity."

How you can support our Access Fund

This generous contribution from The Brooks directly supports our ongoing Access Fund. This dedicated fund helps local school children visit the theatre when tight school budgets for tickets or transport would otherwise put the trip out of reach. It ensures that economic hardship is never the reason a child misses out on an unforgettable cultural experience with their classmates.

If you or your business would like to help us open doors for more young people, we would love to hear from you.