Courtenay Little Theatre is staging Snow White - a Traditional Pantomime from Dec. 22-31 at the Sid Williams Theatre.

For those unfamiliar with 鈥榩antomime鈥� it has nothing to do with not speaking, or silent mime 鈥� quite the opposite. It鈥檚 an ancient tradition still highly popular in Britain. A well-known folk tale is adapted with lots of silliness, much participation from the audience who are encouraged to boo loudly when the baddie appears and are exhorted to let the hero know when the giant is behind him by shouting out 鈥榖ehind you.鈥� There are men taking the parts of the leading 鈥榙ame鈥� and the 鈥榩rinciple boy鈥�, the hero in other words is played by a female. Yes, mind-boggling - but it always works.

This year, the role of Snow White will be split between lead performers, Skye Rigdon and Celie LaCasse.

Thirteen-year-old Rigdon is thoroughly relishing the role. She has performed with Rainbow Youth Theatre in the past, starting when she was nine years old.

Last year, Skye, her sister Cedar and mom Victoria all took part in a traditionally scripted version of Cinderella. 鈥淪now White is so much fun鈥� said Skye. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting and very funny and clever.鈥�

Her 11-year-old sister Cedar agrees.

鈥淚 have been having so much fun; I have multiple costume changes as I play many parts 鈥� including a bear. The rest of the cast are amazing and I鈥檝e enjoyed making new friends, as well as working again with other actors from last year.鈥�

Victoria, their mother, who plays Doc, one of the seven dwarves, agrees wholeheartedly with her daughters. They all feel lucky to be able to spend time together doing something they enjoy, and cannot praise the production team enough.

鈥淢andy, our director, has a wealth of experience in pantomime and has introduced us to this hilarious art form, which is very rich in audience participation,鈥� said Victoria. 鈥淭he script is excellent and everyone is so organized, our rehearsals are highly productive.鈥�

The Taylor/LaCasse family is a three-generation performing family. Jeannine and Chris Taylor have been stalwarts of CLT since the 1980s, and their daughter Holly grew up seeing her mom on stage for years. Holly has joined Jeannine backstage, leaving the performing to her two children.

鈥淚 like watching them from the wings, as I鈥檓 assistant stage manager to Caitlin Hooper, our stage manager; she is marvelous! It鈥檚 the best kind of stress,鈥� she laughs. 鈥淭he production team, all the cast, are so professional, they鈥檙e amazing. Producers Terry Penney and Shari Jakubiec are a delight to work with, always.鈥�

Eldest daughter Celie, 16 years old, is sharing the role of Snow White with Skye, alternating the demanding lead. When they鈥檙e not Snow White, they鈥檙e part of the joint ensemble, a huge amount of work to learn the lines. They both have demanding roles 鈥淚 starting performing when I was about 8, and studied with Kymme Patrick. I really love the theatre, meeting new people and forming strong relationships with others of like mind.鈥� Celie enthuses. Celie won an award recently at the North Island Zone Festival for The Best Performance by a Newcomer or Youth in Circle Mirror Transformation. Holly concurs, 鈥淭heatre is all about creating community.鈥� Younger brother Marshall, 10 years old, is equally keen. 鈥淚 really like singing and dancing, it鈥檚 such fun. I play the part of an orca as well as be in the ensemble.鈥�

Come and be part of that fun when Snow White. Tickets are available at the Sid Williams Theatre box office by calling or 250-334-2430 or online at sidwilliamstheatre.com