Decades of design and build experience stand out as much as the actors on stage in St. Luke鈥檚 Players annual winter panto.

Described by fellow volunteer Beverly van Druten-Blais as having 鈥渄esign and engineering experience beyond measure,鈥� one longtime couple is the driving force behind the set of Camelot as the ever-popular holiday presentation hits the stage this month.

鈥淚 come up with wild ideas and he鈥檚 the one who organizes all the builders here. He鈥檚 brilliant at organizing everybody,鈥� said Helena Hitchcock, who has been building sets alongside her husband David since they met and married 鈥� in the range of 50 years ago.

They brought their experience staging and managing pantos in Britain to Greater Victoria and the Saanich community theatre group in 2006.

鈥淔or every person who's on the stage there鈥檚 twice that number behind,鈥� said David, listing set builders, painters, lighting and props.

Developed in England, a pantomime 鈥� or panto 鈥� is a genre of musical comedy primarily performed during the holiday season at the end of the year. St. Luke鈥檚 Players presents one each winter. This year, Camelot is on stage Dec. 12 through 30, with princes and princesses, witches and wizards, invisible men and teddy bears come to life and the audience cheers the good and boos the bad.

David loves creating the magical backdrop for the playful, energetic, over-exaggerated productions.

鈥淧antos are geared toward kids, I say primarily, but there鈥檚 a lot of humour and a lot of entertainment that adults really, really enjoy. It鈥檚 good family entertainment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work, but it鈥檚 very satisfying.鈥�

Planning started months ago, with the selection of a script, Helena鈥檚 set design and choosing a director.

This year, that鈥檚 Heather Lee.

鈥淎ll these people are so creative and I鈥檓 very grateful for them. It is absolutely a team sport,鈥� Lee said on-site as the final touches were added to the set.

Written by Ben Crocker, Camelot features Charming Prince Arthur, the beautiful Guinevere, the hilarious Sir Laughalot, the wise Merlin, and the delightful Connie Clatterbottom on a magical journey. They face the wicked witch Morgan le Fay and the not-so-vicious Valerin.

It鈥檚 a generational cast of 15 to 20 people including several family sets, such as the trio of siblings and their father. The Lassam family has dad John playing Garlon the invisible Knight and in the position of assistant stage manager, Olivia as a villager and an evil sister, and Lucas and Kai are daring knights, with Kai doubling as youngest Merlin.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a magical panto,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淥ur youngest cast member is five, I won鈥檛 tell you how old our oldest cast member is.鈥�

St. Luke鈥檚 Players presents Camelot Dec. 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. with matinees at 2 p.m. Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22 and 26 through 30 at 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.

Tickets range from $10 to $18, available at or at the door.

The hall seats about 130 people and many performances sell out, Dave said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be working towards something 鈥� there鈥檚 a lot of people who enjoy it, which is why we do it.

"The bottom line is you鈥檙e doing it for an audience.鈥�