Celebrating 50 years of Frodsham panto, well-known local actress Emma Cunniffe reflects on her childhood experiences in several shows, the impact it has had on her successful career and the fond memories she has of taking part alongside her dad, Frank, who was “so funny and got involved with all the panto spirit”, and her TV director mum, June, who was "a wonderful singer”.
"Frodsham Panto helped me so much", Emma reflects, "I learned how to follow a script, tell a story, portray a character and perform to an audience. My first professional job after college was panto at
Salisbury Playhouse playing Sleeping Beauty, using all the skills that I had learned through my years of Frodsham Panto." As Emma took the lead in Little Red Riding Hood in 1984, she was joined on stage by another Frodsham Panto success, Gary Barlow.
Emma remembers Coward's Hotpot between shows, the fabulous costumes, wonderful hand painted sets, seven shows in a week, the community song, the boos and the cheers – all traditions that still happen today!
To celebrate their 50th anniversary of uniquely British entertainment, Frodsham Panto presented Peter Pan to lively audiences throughout January. As Emma says, panto relies on “the family connections, community feeling and experiences it creates for those who take part”.