For 11 years, I have produced the Portobello Pantomime, a local annual institution at the Tabernacle in W11. The Panto features both stars and local faces of all ages. It is community focused, bringing people from all backgrounds and abilities together to be involved in making it, performing in it, and watching it. The Portobello Pantomime is a completely charitable show, in which everyone volunteers their time for free, and all proceeds goes to local charities and social arts projects including the Shepherd’s Bush Families Project.

The Pantomime has been the heart of Christmas for everyone in the local area. It connects and inspires people from all walks of life. It has also started many careers of people who wouldn't originally get into the arts. To this day it is a production that brings all parts of the community together to sing, laugh and dance at Christmas. Nearly all of the kids in the show go to school within a one-mile radius of the Tabernacle. For the team, it remains an everlasting connection to a wonderful part of west London. The Tabernacle W11 is an institution with a similar raison d’être to the Panto. It was founded to safeguard and celebrate Notting Hill’s vibrancy and to have fun while doing it. It is a special corner of this city and we like to think the Panto is a part of that.