KNUTSFORD Little Theatre has cancelled its annual pantomime for the first time in its near 100-year history because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The theatre, like all theatres across the country, amateur and professional, has been hit hard by the pandemic, and has had to cancel productions because of lockdown restrictions.

Company chairman Jim Broughton said he was very sad to announce the cancellation of the forthcoming pantomime, but once everything returned to normal the next one would be ‘the best ever’.

He said: “It is with great sadness that I must announce the cancellation of our 2021 pantomime.

“We had delayed making a decision on our ability to stage this for as long as we possibly could. However, given the current restrictions in place we have no alternative but to cancel.

“We did not feel it was fair to the performers to continue with preparations, given the potential for a cancellation nearer to the performance date, and did not think it was fair to the audiences to raise expectations.”

READ>> New plans submitted for Broad Oak Lane site in Mobberley

The decision to cancel was ‘deeply upsetting’ for everyone connected with the theatre, he said, and it was not a decision that had been taken lightly and without a great amount of ‘consideration and heartache’.

He added: “Once a sense of normality returns you can be certain we will return with renewed enthusiasm for providing the highest quality entertainment in the area, and we will endeavour to make our next pantomime the best ever.”