Grimsby auditorium panto cast ready for a flying start!

The panto mayhem begin recently for the Grimsby Auditorium magical family panto Aladdin when the cast got together for the photo shoot.

Joining the previously announced Coronation Street bad boy Nigel Pivaro as Abanazar are Phil Hoyles as Widow Twankey, Gareth Bennett-Ryan as Wishee Washee, Mary Viscomi as Aladdin, James Houlbrooke as Genie and Helena Gullan as So Shi / Spirit of the Ring.

Phil and Gareth are bringing a local flavor to the show as both of them were raised in Grimsby, where their families still live and Gareth even worked at the venue including being a spotlight operator for panto!

For Phil playing the iconic role of panto dame in his home town is a real honour. He says “I always see Grimsby as my hometown and no matter where I am living or working, Grimsby is still my home.  As they say, you can take the boy out of Grimsby, but you can’t take Grimsby out of the boy!”

Nigel Pivaro has fond memories of a previous appearance at the Auditorium and is looking forward to be being back there at Christmas. “I remember appearing at the Auditorium when I was doing the tour of John Godber’s Bouncers quite a few years ago now but it stays in my mind as the venue was packed with a really appreciative audience who loved the show.”

For Lincoln’s Mary Viscomi this will be her second panto at the Auditorium having played Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk two years ago.

“I am happy to be back at the Auditorium this year as it is a great venue, and it also means I get to spend Christmas with my family. I was in Barnstaple last year which I really enjoyed but it is a long way from home.”

Another returnee is James Houlbrooke who will once again Choreograph the panto as well as playing the flamboyant Genie of the Lamp.

“Starring in the panto as well as choreographing it is always a challenge, particularly as it can be hard to tell what a scene looks like when you are appearing in it rather than watching it. However, the Genie is a brilliant role and I absolutely can’t wait to get started.”

Don’t miss out on seeing this fabulous cast. Aladdin runs for two weeks only from Friday 9th until Monday 26th December 2016.

A Magical Line-Up Coming Together For the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple Panto

We have reached the half way point in the year and casting is coming along nicely for The Queen’s Theatre spectacular family pantomime Aladdin.

 Alongside the previously announced Ian Hallard and Matthew Baldwin the Queen’s Theatre are delighted to have both Jenny Perry and Sophie Ayers returning.

 Jenny, who played Dandini at the Queen’s Theatre last Christmas, is currently touring in The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West. For panto she will be going from villain to hero as she takes on the title role of Aladdin – the poor Chinese boy seeking both riches and the hand of the Princess.

 The Princess will be played by Sophie Ayers who performed the title role of Cinderella last year. Currently Sophie, who has appeared in the West End Productions of We Will Rock You and Loserville, is starring in the sell-out production of West Side Story at Kilworth House.

 Also joining the cast will be Aaron Gibson as the larger than life Genie of Lamp. Aaron played the role in Southport Theatre last year for which the Liverpool Echo compared him to Charles Hawtry with the Southport Visitor calling “fun, fun, fun” while The Stage described him as “splendid”.

 Steve Boden from Imagine Theatre who co-produce the panto says “Jenny was an excellent Dandini last year and has the perfect personality for the bright and cheeky character of Aladdin, whilst Sophie’s beautiful voice makes her ideal for the princess. Aaron had everyone in stitches as the Genie in Southport last year so we are delighted he has agreed to reprise the role in Barnstaple as the audience will love him.”

Coronation Street's Nigel Pivaro to Star in the Grimsby Auditorium Panto

The Grimsby Auditorium are delighted to announce that one of Weatherfield’s most famous bad boys will be appearing at the venue this Christmas in their spectacular family panto Aladdin.

Nigel Pivaro, AKA Terry Duckworth, will be playing the wicked and powerful magician Abanazar in the show which opens on Friday 9 December.

Nigel has appeared in more than 400 episodes of Coronation Street since he first joined the show back in 1983 as the son of the legendary Jack and Vera Duckworth and is one of soapland’s most popular baddies. In fact the character of Terry Duckworth was depicted as the second best TV baddie of all time in the programme The Ones We Love to Hate.

Nigel says “I think the key to any baddie is to have a certain amount of charm. The character of Terry, despite everything, has a lot of charm and I think that it is important than Abanazar has charm as well - after all he has to persuade Aladdin to go in to the magical cave to retrieve the lamp for him. I have also heard that Widow Twankey takes a bit of a ‘shine’ to my character as well.”

“I love panto as I have many fond memories of panto from my childhood and I think the message you take away from the show is that of good triumphing over evil. It is a universal and timeless message and one kids can identify with. I also love the way audiences drive the show  as there are few types of performance which have so much audience participation, and that is something you can feed off and respond to as a performer.”

Nigel trained at the prestigious RADA and has appeared in numerous stage plays including The Tempest, A Taste of Honey, What the Butler Saw, Funny Peculiar, Bouncers and A View From the Bridge and won a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival with No Further Cause for Concern, and has appeared in over twelve pantomimes.

As well as acting Nigel is also a highly respected journalist with a passion for current and foreign affairs and has reported from the Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

Steve Boden, Managing Director of Imagine Theatre who produce the pantomime says “we are delighted to have Nigel on board for Aladdin this year. Abanazar is probably the most famous panto baddie and who better to play the role than one of television’s best known baddies.”