Children at Hednesford Valley High Sixth Form, Cannock got a special surprise on Thursday (21 December) with a visit from the cast of this year’s Prince of Wales Panto – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Oh no, they didn’t! Oh yes, they did!

Earlier this month, the Prince of Wales Theatre launched their first ever Design-The-Dame Competition with primary and SEN schools across Cannock as part of the build-up to the great British Christmas panto tradition of booing, hissing and all-around slapstick fun.

Children were asked to create as wild and outlandish panto Dame costume as possible.

On Thursday, Mia was awarded her winning prize of a family ticket to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and all the children at Hednesford Valley were treated to a visit from the stars of the show.

Organiser Louise Rose, Creative Development Lead at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles, who manage the Prince of Wales Theatre, said:

We’ve received a wide variety of designs! The ideas were a flamboyant mix of ball gowns, exotic headwear, and a range of accessories Kim Kardashian would be proud of. It has been brilliant to see the imagination of children and how they have all interpreted the brief differently.

Schools were also sent links to the history of the panto Dame, which can trace its roots back to ancient Greece, where male and female actors used wooden prosthetics to exaggerate human features.

Louise added:

Mia’s design was beautifully drawn with thought given to costume, accessories, hair and make-up. This was the first year we’ve run this competition, and maybe next year we’ll even get the winning design made up into a costume for the show.

Andy Dale from Hednesford Valley High Sixth Form said:

The students had lots of fun creating their designs and Mia was over the moon to have won. We’ve been involved in a number of creative opportunities with Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles this year, which have benefited the students in many ways from aspirational opportunities to helping them grow in confidence. We can’t wait to get involved again next year.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs is live at The Prince of Wales Theatre 23rd to 30th December. Tickets start from just £20.05, get yours here!