Schools get to see panto after all after snow cancellations

Almost 400 schoolchildren will now get to see the traditional seasonal panto this week after performances were cancelled due to the ice and snow last week.

Last Thursday morning's performance of the pantomime Robin Hood at the Theatre Royal has been rescheduled for Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Staff at the theatre said it was the first time in 12 years that a performance had to be cancelled.

Spokesman John Bultitude said they took the unusual decision after it became apparent that three out of the four affected schools were closed due to the weather and would be unable to get the children into Norwich.

"Most of those schools were closed and the only one that was open still could not get the children here because the coach that was due to bring them couldn't get through,' he said.

"Our education teams have been working hard to try and reschedule and all the schools we have been able to contact have been rebooked and there is still some capacity for more.'

However, Joanna Pedlow, head teacher of Toftwood Infant School, one of the schools affected, said she was concerned that if there was more bad weather they would not be able to get their 91 children to the rescheduled performance and that they would not get a refund.

Mr Bultitude added that all other performances were going ahead as planned but any changes would be notified via their website www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.