Organisers of an adult panto say their first night was ruined by heavy-handed theatre bosses who banned them from filming the performance.

The team behind alternative pantomime Carry On Dick Whittington, at the Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, were also upset when representatives from charity Pride were stopped from making a bucket collection during the show.

The theatre manager told panto organisers they would have to pay £250 to video the show's triumphant return to the stage after more than 20 years.

Brighton Dome, which runs the theatre, said they should have been warned about the collection and the filming before the show began.

They say the situation has now been sorted out to the satisfaction of both parties.

Head of marketing Colin Beesting said: "It's not that we don't allow people to do these things but there needs to be some kind of prior arrangement.

"Collecting money is not necessarily a problem but we need to ensure proper security arrangements are in place.

"Our exits are quite narrow so we need to ensure nothing is blocking them.

"With the filming we need to notify the audience in advance. In the past, members of the audience have objected to shows being filmed while they were there.

"All this is stated in our contract of hire so it shouldn't have been a surprise. Ultimately, we have a responsibility to our audiences.

"We have been in touch with the panto people and are quite happy for them to do this in a future performance."

Brian Ralfe, promoter of the sell-out show said he had been appalled by the theatre's attitude towards what was a charity event.

He said: "Every show in the land is filmed on the first night so producers and directors can study it to see if it can be improved. There is no question of selling it commercially.

"We had to stop videoing because we couldn't afford it. The Pride organisation came down from London to do a collection, only to get thrown out.

"Yet this is supposed to be a theatre for the community."

Organisers of the panto, which used to be a traditional event and played to packed houses in the Sixties and Seventies, said they were planning to take it on tour following the conclusion of the run in Brighton on Sunday.