About Us

Our Story – A Legacy of Laughter, Magic & Community

Our Story

Since 1950, the Halifax YMCA Pantomime Society has been weaving magic, laughter and marvellous mayhem into the heart of Halifax. Our first production, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, opened in 1951 and set the stage for generations of colourful characters, spectacular performances and traditional family entertainment.

In the early years, the Halifax YMCA supported both an Amateur Operatic Society and a Pantomime Society. As the two groups grew closer, their talents eventually came together for a joint production of Jack and the Beanstalk in 1973, beginning a new chapter in our theatrical story.

At the heart of those early productions was the legendary Geoff Beck, who wrote and produced many of our shows with incredible creativity and enthusiasm. His death in 1979 left an enormous gap within the society. A special memorial production was staged in his honour in 1980, before the society returned triumphantly with Dick Whittington in 1981. From that moment, our annual pantomime tradition continued to grow.

Over the decades, our panto family has inspired a variety of successful performance groups, including The Statesiders, Reflections and Optical Illusion. These groups entertained audiences throughout the district while raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

A more recent and much-loved part of our legacy belongs to the late Ken Bean. Whether performing onstage or working tirelessly behind the scenes, Ken gave his time, energy and friendship generously to the society. He became a familiar and important part of our panto family, helping to maintain the high standards, strong friendships and community spirit on which the society continues to thrive. His contribution is fondly remembered by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.

With every curtain call, we celebrate creativity, friendship, community and good old-fashioned pantomime fun. Whether you are a returning audience member, a first-time visitor or a future star waiting in the wings, there will always be room for you in the story of the Halifax YMCA Pantomime Society.