PREPARATIONS for the Christmas panto have given one of the region’s theatres a distinctly autumnal look.

Hundreds of leaves are pouring into the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond as local knitters respond to a request to make leaves for the show Jack and the Beanstalk.

The leaves will be used to decorate a giant beanstalk that will “grow’” through the theatre’s reception areas during the pantomime period – December 5 to January 3.

More than 750 leaves have been knitted or crocheted so far in all shapes, sizes and colours – and many were made at a popular “knit and knatter” event earlier this month.

Chief executive Clare Allen said: “We have been delighted by the response from the public and it is wonderful for the whole community to be involved in the pantomime.

“It’s a bit of a tradition at the theatre to have a festive knitting project and in previous years we have had 1,000 knitted bananas and 3,000 wool snowball pompoms. It would be fantastic to break those records.”

The theatre is still keen to receive donations of leaves, with the final cut-off date for contributions on November 23. A trophy has been donated by Richmond’s C J Lightfoot jewellers for the most prolific leaf knitter.

A leaf pattern is available to download from georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk by following the pantomime link or a printed copy can be picked up from the box office. Alternatively, people are encouraged to make up their own designs - the more creative, the better.

Finished leaves can be handed in or posted to the Georgian Theatre Royal on Victoria Road, Richmond, DL10 4DW.