FIFTEEN schools, 1,000 children and 2,500 years of pantomime history combine in Those Magic Beans’ lead-up to their first York Barbican show, Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood.

Led by Jamie Wilson, the panto producers are investing thousands of pounds in an education programme that offers free workshops and training with theatre professionals, both at the Barbican and in schools across the city.

The team behind the star-studded panto are spending the run-up to Christmas working with 15 schools and organisations, teaching around 1,000 York children about the history and origins of the great British pantomime tradition.

Millthorpe Secondary School is the pantomime’s partner school. From drama workshops for Year 7, to masterclasses and work placements for GCSE drama students, every year group has the chance to work with the show’s creative team.

Head of drama Katy Sladen says: “We are thrilled and excited to be working with York Barbican’s panto this year. The team have provided wonderful opportunities for students across all year groups in the school to work with professional directors, actors and dancers from the company at the venue and on our school site.

“Students have gained a deeper understanding of the origins and development of the pantomime style and participated in workshops encouraging them to explore and develop their own performance skills. We now can’t wait to see the show in December.”

In July, a number of schools were invited to attend York Barbican for a day of dance, acting and music workshops, and throughout September, October and November, the panto team have been visiting schools in the North Yorkshire area with workshops for all ages.

Siobhan Gordon-Wylie, Year 3 and 4 teacher at Camblesforth Primary Academy near Selby, says: “The history of pantomime workshops were loved and enjoyed by all children and teachers involved. The children learned so much and the teachers did too. We had such a great day and it’s definitely inspired children to get involved with drama and visiting the theatre.”

Sarah Munday, of Carr Junior School, says: “Our children were engaged throughout the entire experience, largely due to the humorous and energetic delivery of Jamie [Wilson], the workshop leader. Both pupils and staff learned a vast amount. In fact, staff were still discussing it in the staff room later on. We would thoroughly recommend this workshop to other schools with an interest in drama, pantomime or theatre in general. Hopefully we will get an opportunity to work with the team again in future.”

This outreach programme is the biggest yet undertaken by York Barbican, whose general manager, Mark Scott, says: “Having witnessed one of the workshops, it was wonderful to see children engrossed, enthused and becoming fledgling theatre-goers of the future.”

l Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood will run from December 21 to 31 with a cast led by Boyzone’s Shane Lynch as the Sheriff; A1’s Ben Adams as Robin; ex-EastEnders star Ricky Norwood as Silly Billy and Brookside and Coronation Street’s Michael Starke as dame Nurse Nellie.

Phats & Small singer Ben Ofoedu, Nineties’ pop singer Lolly, alias Anna Kumble, The Voice semi-finalist Jaz Ellington and York actress Beth Stevens’ Maid Marian complete the company. Tickets can be booked on 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk