It was the custom for the Honiton Mayor and Mayoress to treat the children from the workhouse in January. They were taken to Exeter on the Special Christmas Pantomime trains which ran on Wednesdays. The children enjoyed the pantomime performed at the Theatre Royal and on their return to Honiton they were given sumptuous tea in the Dolphin Hotel and every child received a gift.

January 1930 saw the first pantomime in Honiton. It was ‘Dick Whittington’ and performed by Mr Scoble’s amateur company from Chard. Despite a severe gale which uprooted trees and dislodged slates the attendance was good. The proceeds were given to the R.A.O.B and the town band to buy new instruments.

Cinderella was performed in the Drill Hall by Mr Scoble’s company on three nights in the following January. Seats could be booked at Mr Brockway’s Library, and they cost 2 or 3 shillings, children half price. The lights failed before the curtain was raised so the orchestra played in the dark to entertain the audience in the dark.

In 1933 Juanita Phillips built her ‘Little Theatre at the rear of Sudbury Lawn with the aim of fostering amateur dramatics in East Devon. At one time she was the drama director at the Forum Club in London. In the following year she wrote, painted the scenery, provided the costumes, stage managed and produced ‘Dick Whittington’ which was performed nine times over two weeks. Booking in advance was recommended as the theatre could only accommodate an audience of seventy two people. people. The proceeds were in aid of the Honiton Carnival Fund for the Hospital.

All the pantomime costumes and scenery were stored in the theatre and a nearby cottage for future use. In 1937 the townspeople were disappointed because Juanita had hurt her arm and could not paint the scenery so there was no pantomime. She took her cabaret troupe to perform at Powderham Castle and staged nativity plays too.

Juanita thought that the youth in Honiton were incredibly talented. Her biggest event in Honiton was a successful pageant of the History of England in Allhallows Playing field with over a hundred performers taking part. She never had difficulty in finding cast members. She relied on the Women’s Institute, Girl Guides, and the Scouts to fill roles.

Juanita concentrated on serious plays and so Cyril Burgess, Bernard Kendall and their families presented pantomimes for several years in the Mackarness Hall.