WE launched the Swan professional pantomime last Friday, and splendid pictures have already appeared in this worthy broadsheet.

Robin Hood and the Babes In The Wood is what we have this year, and interestingly, it is the only professional performance of this particular pantomime in the country in the 2008/09 season. (Robin Hood is on in Birmingham without the Babes but that isn’t a traditional pantomime.) The cast is splendid, and we are very hopeful that the pantomime will be a popular choice at Christmas and new year.

Many of the children’s performances are already sold out, and the holiday matinees are selling well, so don’t leave it too long.

What’s that theatre expression? Oh yes, book early to avoid disappoint.

● Generally, life is quite difficult for a great many people at the moment – the cost of food and fuel, uncertainty in the housing market, and prices rising generally means that people don’t have much spare money, and that is bound to impact on the entertainment industry.

In fact it already is. Let’s hope things get better soon.

As I write, holiday companies are going out of business and it will not be long before places of entertainment follow (although the Hall and then Swan are strong and will undoubtedly survive). Roll on those good times again.

● Chris Jaeger is chief executive of Worcester Live.