Every Christmas since launching Wandsworth Radio in 2015 a group of volunteers at the radio station have written, played and produced a Pantomime. This is usually presented in front of a live studio audience and recorded to be played out on Riverside Radio throughout the festive season.

Audiences get very involved shouting and booing at the baddies and applauding the heroes while sampling some turkey, stuffing and mince pies from the kitchens of Waste Not Want Not Battersea in The Venue Community Centre.

However, this year as with everything else our plans were put to pasture by the pandemic. In spite of this disappointment as a special treat Riverside Radio will re-play pantomimes from years gone by.

Here’s a bit of history on these Pantomimes from the past which you’ll be able to catch on Riverside Radio throughout Christmas 2020.

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2015 - Dick Whittington

Written by Chris Pearson and Rob Wong

Our very first pantomime was written by Saturday Night Wandsworth Radio presenters Chris Pearson and Rob Wong (although we think Chris did most of the work). Ben Ashmore played Dick and the radio stations founder Jason Rosam was roped into playing the Fairy Godfather. It was recorded in front of a live studio audience at the Karaoke bar on Battersea Park Road.

2016 - Aladdin

Written by Ben Ashmore and Emma Findlay

Starring as Dick in the previous years Pantomime Ben Ashmore got together with volunteer presenter Emma Findlay and wrote 2016’s Aladdin. The show was performed and recorded at The Grove Pub on Battersea Park Road. Craig MaCaulay took the title role and Asi Munisi from Sunday Joy played Princess Jasmine.

2017 - Cinderella

Written by Lesley Strachan

Riverside Radio director Lesley Strachan decided to write a ’Strictly Come Dancing’ version of Cinderella for 2017’s pantomime starring Lexie Carducci in the title role. The Fairy Godmother was hilariously played by sports presenter Steve Zetter who very sadly passed away a few hours after performing in the pantomime. Steve is fondly remembered by the radio station to this day with our main studio named the ’Steve Zetter Studio’.

2018 - Aladdin

Written by Andy Harland

Drive time presenter Carpet Martin performed brilliantly as the Magic Carpet in Andy Harland's production of Aladdin with Saturday breakfast presenter Mark Jarvis in the title role. He was supposed to have written Jack and the Beanstalk but didn’t get the email. He didn’t realise we’d already performed Aladdin in 2016. Another stunning performance during this Pantomime was Ian Barclay’s Widow Twankey.

2019 - Peter Pan

Written by Martin Smith

After appearing in two previous pantomimes Sunday morning presenter Martin Smith turned his hand to writing the biggest Panto yet, Peter Pan. News reporter May Lou Watson stole the show as Tinkerbell and Spotlight presenter as her sister Stinkerbell. Martin ask himself as the evil Captain Hook with producer Ida May Griffthis taking up her first on stage role as Wendy Darling.