It was 20 years ago that Ellie King wrote and directed her first pantomime, Sinbad, at Vancouver’s Metro Theatre.

Since then, the actor, producer and director’s efforts to keep alive the Christmas tradition in which she cut her teeth as a young performer in England have made her the Lower Mainland’s indisputable panto queen – with an influence that can be seen, beyond her own productions, in seasonal offerings of other community theatre groups.

Along the way she has accumulated a repertoire of 15 original pantos, with a new one – her own version of Alice In Wonderland – waiting in the wings for next year.

But through this Christmas season, the Langley resident is back at Surrey Arts Centre’s main stage (13750 88 Ave.) with a perennial favourite, Robin Hood, presented by her own Royal Canadian Theatre Company (to Jan. 3).

Not only is she only a short distance from where she used to live when she, husband Geoff and sons James and Simon first moved to Canada 27 years ago, she has a long history of working with Surrey Arts Centre, including two pantomimes staged there between her eight-year tenure at Metro and her extended stint as artistic director of New Westminster’s Burr Theatre.

And, speaking after a preview night of Robin Hood that packed the house Dec. 17, she’s delighted that so far this year’s run (unlike last year’s Mother Goose) hasn’t coincided with a record-setting dump of snow.

The compact show – a shade over two hours – is traditionally British-style panto from principal ‘boy’ Mandy Tulloch’s fishnets and high heels to Alan Cedargreen’s overdrawn lips and eyebrows and bizarrely coloured costumes as Dame Gertie Goodbrew.

It may be called Robin Hood, but don’t count on it being a traditional retelling of the adventures of the outlaw of Sherwood Forest.

As in all pantomimes, the time-honoured tale is fair game for knock-about comedy, musical numbers, groaner puns and cheerful absurdity of all kinds.

“It’s all about bows and arrows and monsters and a blacklight number,” is the nearest King can come to describing the plot.

“There’s also a cowboy, of course – if you’ve got a Sheriff, you’ve got to have a cowboy.”

As usual, King has hand-picked a cast capable of bringing her vision of panto to life.

“We have a fabulous group of people – Alan’s back in top form and Mandy is every inch the traditional panto ‘boy’,” said King, noting that favourite members of her stock company also include Michael Roberds (of New Addams Family fame) as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, son James as “a very silly” wrestling-style Demon King and Caszie Shobeer as “a very feisty fairy.”

Other favourites making a return in this production are Manfred Schula as Friar Tuck and Vanca McFadyen as Fester the Jester – as well as Geoff King in his accustomed role as musical director and co-composer, with the director, of two original songs in the score: Storybook Ending and Call To Arms.

But there are also a host of new faces in this year’s show, including a cameo appearance, as Little Red Riding Hood, by veteran Surrey politician Judy Higginbotham, who stepped down last year after 25 years as a councillor during her bid for a federal seat.

“She’s been getting cheers – the audience loves her,” said King, who added the role was an offshoot of a casual conversation with the well-known South Surrey resident.

“It turns out she can act,” she said.

“When I told her that, she said ‘theatre is not all that different from politics.’”

King’s policy is to provide opportunities for new performers, both young and old, she said.

“Audiences like to see some of the same people – but they also like novelty,” she said.

But she also sees it as part of her company’s role in the community.

“We’re mentoring children and teens – we teach them to sing and dance and act and provide the venue for rehearsal and performance, and we don’t make them join the society, or charge them anything.

“It’s all part of giving back – like the one night we donate all proceeds to the Surrey Food Bank.”

For tickets, or for more information, call the boxoffice at 604-501-5566, or visit www.arts.surrey.ca