Theatre launches knitting campaign for panto props

Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal are asking the community to make knitted or crocheted ice creams that will be thrown on stage as part of the show

It may still be summer, but a theatre has already started looking ahead to its Christmas pantomime.

Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal have appealed for knitters to create woolly props for their festive show, Treasure Island.

Theatre staff have called on the community to make knitted or crocheted ice creams that will be thrown on stage as part of the show, as well as decorating the theatre's foyer.

The Georgian Theatre Royal has called on local crafters to help their annual pantomime since 2011 with local yarn-lovers creating everything from bananas to snowballs.

In the early days, the project typically attracted contributions from just the local area but has since spread far and wide, with knitters from as far afield as Australia sending in their pantomime presents.

“As soon as the curtain went down on last year’s pantomime, we started receiving phone calls and emails asking what the next knitting project will be," theatre manager Jo Mawhinney said.

Hambleton Community Action were among the groups that joined last year's appeal, knitting vegetables that were later donated to local nursery groups

Richmond resident Jen Capewell has been among the local knitters who have been helping out the theatre ever since the first appeal for help.

“It’s great fun to be part of something that gives so much pleasure to so many people," she said.

After the knitted objects have been used on stage, they are then donated to local groups including local nurseries and playgroups who use them to help teach children.

“It is fantastic the way that everyone gets involved with this project from experienced knitters to those who are picking up their needles for the first time.

"Each knitted item that we receive is very much appreciated as we know what huge effort goes into creating them," added Ms Mawhinney.

For this year's project, which will see knitted ice creams thrown on stage - as would have taken place in a traditional Georgian theatre - crafters have been asked to create any kind of ice lolly, ice cream or even an ice cream wafer sandwich.

Inspiration for knitted and crochet pattern examples can be picked up from the theatre box office, where finished creations should also be handed in or posted to before 30 November.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.