Key Points
- Havering’s “Once Upon a Pantomime” float brought 94 local performers to the 40th London New Year’s Day Parade.
- Performers came from Rainham’s Lightnin Drama, Thunder Productions and the MCA Trust, representing Havering to an estimated 750,000 spectators.
- The float blended pantomime classics including The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty in a single theatrical display.
- Havering’s Mayor, Councillor Sue Ospreay, led the float dressed as Dick Whittington, with the Mayoress as the Cat and her husband as King Rat.
- Mayor Ospreay described the day as “fantastic” and “magical”, praising the community and young people at the heart of the project.
- Local firms including Elm Site Services, DDA Haulage, Elliot Commercial Repairs, Sharp Skips and Buzz Handy Many Solutions sponsored and built key elements of the float.
- Harris Academy Rainham students took part, underlining the role of local schools in the borough’s cultural life.
- Children from the MCA Trust, the Mayor’s chosen charity supporting local children with cancer, were central to the float.
- Deputy Mayor Councillor Barry Mugglestone called the float “colourful, vibrant” and said it “absolutely deserves to win”.
- The event coincided with Lightnin Drama’s 45th anniversary year, highlighting its long-standing role in community arts.
- The parade appearance reinforced Havering’s reputation for creativity and community spirit at the start of 2026.
Havering’s “Once Upon a Pantomime” float turned London’s New Year’s Day Parade into a moving stage of colour, community and celebration, as 94 local performers from Rainham’s Lightnin Drama, Thunder Productions and the MCA Trust dazzled an estimated 750,000 spectators and millions of television viewers with a joyful fusion of classic pantomime characters and heartfelt local pride.
How did Havering make its mark at the 2026 London New Year’s Day Parade?
As reported by the Havering Daily, Havering seized the spotlight at the world-famous London New Year’s Day Parade with a spectacular float themed “Once Upon a Pantomime”, transforming part of the capital’s streets into a roaming fairytale scene. The entry showcased 94 performers drawn from Rainham’s renowned Lightnin Drama group, its younger offshoot Thunder Productions, and the young stars of the MCA Trust, all proudly representing the borough.
According to the Havering Daily coverage, the parade appearance unfolded before an estimated 750,000 people lining central London’s route, with millions more watching the event on television. Against the backdrop of cheering crowds, the Havering contingent used theatre, costume and music to project an image of a borough that is creative, confident and united.
This year’s London New Year’s Day Parade carried particular significance, with organisers marking its 40th anniversary. For Havering, the milestone coincided with a major celebration of its own: Lightnin Drama will mark 45 years of community arts work this September, underlining the group’s evolution into what the Havering Daily described as a “powerhouse” of local performance.
What was the story behind the ‘Once Upon a Pantomime’ theme?
The float, as detailed by the Havering Daily, was conceived as a full-scale pantomime extravaganza that merged several beloved stories into one cohesive spectacle. Characters from The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty shared the stage, creating a cross‑genre fairytale designed to appeal to all ages and evoke the nostalgia and humour at the heart of British pantomime tradition.
Visually, the float radiated brightness and energy. The Havering Daily reported that it was “bright, colourful and bursting with energy”, with performers in elaborate costumes delivering choreography and interaction that “radiated happiness along the route and captured the hearts of everyone who watched.” This blend of classic narratives and modern staging gave the borough’s entry a distinctive, family‑friendly identity within the broader parade.
The theme also allowed Havering to highlight its depth of performance talent. By integrating multiple stories, directors and choreographers could create roles for a wide range of ages and abilities, showcasing the full spectrum of participants from seasoned Lightnin Drama members to the younger Thunder Productions cast and the children involved through the MCA Trust.
Who performed on the float and how were local groups involved?
As reported by the Havering Daily, the performance core was formed by 94 individuals from three closely linked organisations: Rainham’s Lightnin Drama, Thunder Productions and the MCA Trust. Lightnin Drama, approaching its 45th anniversary, brought decades of stage experience and a reputation built across community theatres and events. Its popularity and demand, according to the same report, led directly to the creation of Thunder Productions, a sister group set up for younger members to ensure “the next generation continues to shine.”
Thunder Productions offered an on‑ramp for younger performers to experience a global event at an early stage in their artistic development. Their presence on the float, dancing and acting alongside older peers, illustrated the inter‑generational nature of Havering’s performing arts scene.
The MCA Trust participants added an additional layer of meaning. The Havering Daily noted that the charity supports local children with cancer and their families and has been chosen as the Mayor’s charity for the year. By placing children from the MCA Trust at the heart of the float, organisers aligned the spectacle with a message of resilience, hope and solidarity, rather than simply entertainment.
How did Mayor Sue Ospreay and civic leaders take part?
Havering’s civic leadership did not remain on the sidelines. As described in the Havering Daily article, Mayor Councillor Sue Ospreay led the float “from the front” dressed as Dick Whittington, the legendary figure often credited as London’s first Mayor in pantomime lore. The Mayoress took on the role of the Cat, and Mayor Ospreay’s husband donned the costume of King Rat, adding theatrical villainy and comic contrast.
In comments reported by the Havering Daily, Mayor Sue Ospreay reflected on the experience, stating:
“It was such a fantastic day and one I will treasure forever. To see our community come together in this way, with our young people at the heart of it, made me incredibly proud. What started as a simple idea on a piece of paper became something truly magical. Everyone involved gave their all, and Havering shone.”
Her remarks captured both the emotional significance of the event and the collaborative journey from concept to parade‑ready production.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Barry Mugglestone also highlighted the importance of the occasion. Speaking to the Havering Daily, he said:
“Privilege to be there representing Havering as Deputy Mayor while the Mayor played a major role on the Havering float. The float was colourful, vibrant and absolutely deserves to win. Thank you to all the sponsors, supporters and those who gave their time.”
His comments underscored the formal recognition being given to the volunteers, performers and sponsors who underwrote the borough’s presence.
Which local sponsors and organisations helped bring the float to life?
Behind the theatrical flourish stood a network of local businesses and institutions, whose contributions were detailed by the Havering Daily. Elm Site Services acted as the main sponsor, providing the financial underpinning necessary to realise the ambitious design. DDA Haulage supplied the lorry and trailer that formed the structural platform of the float, ensuring the pantomime castle and its performers could safely traverse the parade route.
Power for the display came from a diesel generator provided by Elliot Commercial Repairs, while Sharp Skips took responsibility for waste disposal associated with the build and event logistics. Buzz Handy Many Solutions, a local firm, constructed the striking castle backdrop that anchored the float visually and framed key characters including the wicked queen and Sleeping Beauty.
Harris Academy Rainham also played a significant role. The Havering Daily reported that many of the academy’s students participated as performers, weaving education and the arts together and giving young people direct exposure to a major public event. The involvement of a local school underlined an important dimension of the project: the intention not only to entertain but to inspire students and show them the possibilities of creative collaboration beyond the classroom.
Why was the MCA Trust’s involvement especially meaningful?
The inclusion of the MCA Trust was central to the narrative and emotional resonance of Havering’s float. According to the Havering Daily, the charity supports local children living with cancer and their families, offering practical and emotional assistance at a deeply challenging time. Mayor Sue Ospreay has chosen the MCA Trust as her official charity for the year, further elevating its profile within the borough.
By placing children from the MCA Trust at the heart of the “Once Upon a Pantomime” performance, organisers turned the float into more than just a carnival spectacle. Their presence served as a visible statement about community values: that Havering stands alongside its most vulnerable residents and that celebrations such as the New Year’s Day Parade can be vehicles for inclusion and support as well as entertainment.
This element of the float added a poignant counterpoint to the colour and music. The Havering Daily report noted that their involvement made the event “deeply symbolic and moving,” reminding onlookers that behind the costumes and choreography lay stories of courage and care.
How did the float showcase Havering’s creativity and community spirit?
From the construction yard to the streets of central London, collaboration emerged as the defining characteristic of Havering’s parade project. As reported by the Havering Daily, the float’s fairytale castle, complete with dragon, wicked queen and Sleeping Beauty, came to life through a blend of creativity, generosity and hands‑on effort from local supporters and tradespeople.
Organisers, volunteers and performers worked together to turn early sketches into a working stage. The Havering Daily described the atmosphere as one of unmistakable teamwork, noting that the final display felt “less like a parade entry and more like a celebration of everything that makes Havering special.” In practice, this meant neighbours giving up evenings and weekends, local firms offering materials and skills, and families supporting the young performers through rehearsals and costume fittings.
The parade appearance also highlighted the strength of the borough’s cultural ecosystem. With Lightnin Drama celebrating 45 years this September and Thunder Productions carrying its legacy into a younger demographic, Havering has a ready‑made infrastructure for community arts. The New Year’s Day Parade became a high‑profile stage on which that long‑term investment could be viewed by a global audience.
What impact did the event have as Havering enters 2026?
The Havering Daily concluded that the day created “wonderful memories” for both audiences and performers, suggesting that its effects would endure beyond the final drumbeat of the parade. For the young participants, especially those from Thunder Productions, Harris Academy Rainham and the MCA Trust, performing in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators offered a formative experience that may shape their confidence and future ambitions.
At a borough level, Havering’s contribution to the parade helped set a tone of optimism and cohesion for the start of 2026. The Havering Daily reflected that “as 2026 begins, Havering has already set the tone. If this magical moment is anything to go by, the year ahead is full of promise.” While the parade is only one event in the civic calendar, its scale and visibility made it a flagship statement about who Havering is and what it wants to project to the wider world: a community that values creativity, supports its young people and stands together in celebration.
From the vantage point of the parade route, the “Once Upon a Pantomime” float was a vivid splash of colour in a crowded field of entries. Through the lens of the Havering Daily’s reporting, it becomes something more: an emblem of four and a half decades of community arts, a platform for children facing extraordinary challenges, and a collective achievement that residents can point to with pride as the new year unfolds.
