PANTOMIME season has never been so different, with the coronavirus pandemic meaning it has been impossible for our theatres to go ahead with their performances in the usual format.
South Essex performers have been used to entertaining jam-packed crowds who scream ‘He’s behind you’ and get involved in the toing and froing of ‘Oh no he isn’t! Oh yes he is!’
Everyone has their favourite pantomimes, ranging from the likes of Dick Whittington to Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty to Snow White.
We have delved into the Echo archive to reminisce about how pantomimes have looked at our Southend, Basildon and Canvey theatres over the years.
A year like no other - pantomimes have been unable to go ahead in their usual format due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
The eye-catching snaps date back as far as the 1920s and show how costumes have changed up until the current day.
Scroll down to see more eye-catching snaps through the decades.
Panto 1920s style - a production of Cinderella at the Hippodrome Theatre, Southend, in December 1924, 13 years before the theatre was renamed the Gaumont
Made the trip to show his support - Santa Claus was in attendance and got everyone into the Christmas spirit as the south Essex community prepared to watch an eye-catching pantomime
Once upon a dream - Gail Dawson gets into character as the Witch and Carinne Dallow plays Sleeping Beauty during a performance at the Paddocks, Canvey, in 1983
Bringing fairytales to life - Simon Fielding and the Towngate Theatre stars have entertained Basildon for decades
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Cinderella - this photograph is from a pantomime on Canvey in 1984
Getting into character - Sophie Ladds played Aunty Banazar in the Towngate Theatre production of Aladdin three years ago
Wicked - Snow White and the Witch smile for the camera during a 1988 pantomime on Canvey
Acting - Snow White, played by Sheryl Laycock, takes a bite of an apple watched by dwarfs Bethany Brace and Eden Connolly
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