This amateur film shows pupils of Percy Hedley School in Newcastle performing a pantomime on stage in front of an audience. The view of the performance is mainly from a static position within the audience; some views of the performance are obscured. The film opens with a group of children in an area in front of the audience with a curtain behind them. The stage is not on a raised platform, so some of the performers are difficult to see. One of the group speaks to the audience The curtain...

This amateur film shows pupils of Percy Hedley School in Newcastle performing a pantomime on stage in front of an audience. The view of the performance is mainly from a static position within the audience; some views of the performance are obscured. The film opens with a group of children in an area in front of the audience with a curtain behind them. The stage is not on a raised platform, so some of the performers are difficult to see. One of the group speaks to the audience The curtain opens showing a silver star set on a backdrop above the performers. Some of the children are dressed in Middle Eastern headwear. A girl with a large bow in her hair speaks to the audience, this is followed by all the children singing a song, followed by another. The curtains are closed [quite dark] General views follow of the audience, some of the adults have children with them. The stage curtain is opened again, and a boy in a red tunic walks on, aided by a walking frame. He talks to another performer who seems to be distressed. Three performers in wheelchairs take to the stage, the boy in the red tunic talks to a girl dressed in red and green, another performer approaches the girl and they have a conversation, they then all walk off stage. Wearing a red cloak and conical hat a witch-like character speaks to another in a wheelchair. She then waves a wand. A white coach drawn by actors dressed as white horses comes on stage. A princess or a queen is the passenger. The curtain is closed then opened again as a number of performers appear on stage. Two boys wearing crowns and bright costumes have an audience with the queen. A large group of performers gather together onstage A large bell made from paper appears above the stage. A boy appears on stage and speaks to the audience. The curtain opens as a group of performers gather around a girl in a chair at the centre of the stage. A boy wearing a white wig makes an announcement to the gathering. Three characters with criminal intent appear on stage one carries a gun. The boy in the white wig appears again and speaks. One of the criminals shoots him; another of the criminals speaks to the audience. In the background, his companions carry a safe off stage. The girl in a chair seen at centre stage earlier comes back on. A boy holds a telephone receiver to her ear. Following this Batman and Robin appear and wheel in a piece of apparatus that has a flashing light. A boy wearing a beard makes an announcement. A girl appears in a glamorous costume and stands centre stage behind a microphone. Mayhem seems to break out on stage and the curtains are drawn across once again. Some children with placards walk past the front of the closed curtains. On the placards are written sound effects such as,’Blam’ ‘Kapowe’, Ouch!, ‘Thunk’ and ‘Pow’ The curtain opens again, and two boys carry the safe back, a song is performed and the film ends with everyone singing and joining in with hand movements. The curtain closes.