Record Breaking Season for De Montfort Hall

More people than ever have come to see the pantomime in Leicester this year, De Montfort Hall has revealed.

Production photograph: Pamela Raith

The record-breaking attendance has, for the first time, broken through the 30,000 mark.

Since reintroducing pantomime at the Hall in 2013, attendance has been growing year on year, with this year marking a new record, not just for pantomime but for any previous Christmas show at the venue.

Ticket sales for Beauty and the Beast were so strong they had overtaken the previous year’s after just the first week of performances.

A total of 30,278 tickets were sold across the 38-show run, which starred Dick and Dom’s Richard McCourt and X Factor winner Sam Bailey, an increase of 10% on last year’s show.

Special schools performances were sold out in the first week of the run, and the relaxed performance for people with an autistic spectrum condition or communication disorder also proved very popular.

De Montfort Hall general manager, Antony Flint, said: “We are really pleased that so many people have come to watch our pantomime this year. Leicester folk of every generation have really taken it into their hearts and it’s become a real family tradition to come and watch the panto each year.

“We are already planning next season’s show – Peter Pan – and are looking forward to bringing a bit of panto magic back for Christmas 2018.”

Peter Pan is proving a popular choice, with hundreds of tickets already being sold during this year’s run.

Councillor Piara Singh Clair, Deputy City Mayor and Lead on Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: “The pantomime is a great boost for Leicester, attracting thousands of extra people and revenue into the city each day and we are really pleased that so many people have been able to enjoy these shows.”

Full Casting Announced for De Montfort Hall’s pantomime

The De Montfort Hall are delighted to announce their full casting for this year's spectacular family pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.

Sarah Accomando and Karl Loxley will play the title roles of Beauty and the Beast, alongside Daniel Tawse in his first De Montfort Hall pantomime playing the role of villain Eugene.

They are joining the previously announced Richard McCourt from Dick and Dom, X-Factor finalist and Leicester favourite Sam Bailey, Heartbeat’s David Lonsdale and BBC Radio Leicester’s Martin Ballard who will be donning a frock for the seventh time to play Dame Kimmy Shoo!

Sarah Accomando who is playing Beauty is delighted to be returning to a role that has a special place in her heart having played Disney’s Belle for The Walt Disney Company in Tokyo, Japan.

Karl Loxley, former contestant of The Voice, will be largely unrecognisable hidden behind a mask as the Beast. Karl has been busy performing concerts to sell-out crowds across the UK and flying around the world to perform on luxury cruise liners since appearing on the show.

Both Sarah and Karl are making return visits to De Montfort Hall having previously appeared together in the 2015 pantomime, Snow White, playing the title role and the prince.

Sarah said: “I am thrilled to be back at De Montfort Hall this Christmas. I was last here as Snow White a couple of years back and I had such a blast, so I just know this Christmas is going to be a lot of fun. I met so many wonderful people whilst working in Leicester so I just can’t wait to be back.”

Antony Flint, De Montfort Hall general manager, added “Our aim is to build on the success of previous years and believe that this is our strongest cast to date offering something for the whole family. We want to give the Leicester audiences a proper Leicester show with lots of in jokes, local references and talent - I’m sure there will be the odd reference to bogies this year if Richard has anything to do with it!”

Beauty and the Beast runs from Saturday 16 December 2017 until Sunday 7 January 2018.

A 'Beauty' of a Cast for The Palace Theatre Newark Panto

The Palace Theatre’s festive plans are well under way and they are delighted to announce their full cast for this year’s spectacular family panto Beauty and the Beast.

Jonathan Wrather

Tim Freeman

Ryan Willis

Isabella Rubin

Jamie Sheerman

David Gilbrook

Anna Mitcham

Adam Pettit

Joining Emmerdale’s Jonathan Wrather is Tim Freeman, who is back by popular demand having played Dame Trot in last year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk. He is been joined by a host of new faces including Ryan Willis as Dame Dorothy’s daft son Willy Do it, Isabella Rubin as Beauty, David Gilbrook as Beauty’s Father, Jamie Sheerman as Pimple, Adam Pettit as the Beast and Anna Mitcham as the Enchantress.

Tim is delighted be returning to The Palace Theatre to play Dame Dorothy Do It.

“The Palace is such a lovely theatre with a great crew! Best of all though are the Newark audiences who are always up for a laugh! I have some great memories from last year. There was one show when I was chasing Kev (Simple Simon) around with a massive custard pie and I slipped over but the floor was so slippery I just couldn't stand up, when Kev tried to help me he fell over too and we ended sliding all over the place- chaos! And so embarrassing! The audience loved it though and hopefully they thought it was just part of the script!”

“Playing Dame is great as you get to have cheeky laughs with the audience and the rest of the cast! You get to mess around with custard pies as well and get paid for it – what could be better!”

This will be Ryan’s first visit to the Palace Theatre and his fourth professional pantomime having previously appeared in Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk in Guildford and Snow White in Nottingham.

Ryan understands the importance of panto on young theatregoers. “The first pantomime I saw as a child was The Wizard of Oz. It was the first theatre show I ever saw and was where my passion for theatre began. Pantomime is often a child’s first introduction to theatre and it is important we give them a fabulous show so they go away wanting to see more live theatre.”

For Jamie Sheerman this will be his second time playing Pimple having appeared in Beauty and the Beast at The Spa Centre in Leamington last year.

“Pimple is the sidekick to Eugene, Jonathan Wrather’s character, in the same way that Lefou is to Gaston in the Disney version. I get some great comedy moments in the show and it is fun being part of a duo as you can play off each other a fair bit as well.” 

The show will once again be directed by Mairi Cowieson with choreography by Graeme Pickering. Mairi says “I really enjoy working on the panto in Newark as the town has a real community spirit and the all the venue staff work really hard on the panto and help to make it a great success.”

“It is really exciting to do Beauty and the Beast as the panto this year after the huge popularity of the recent film. The panto version is, of course, very different to the Disney version and has a lot more comedy in it, but the basic story is the same and we know the audiences are going to love it.”

Beauty and the Beast runs from Friday 8 December 2017 until Wednesday 3 January 2018.

Soap Star Jonathan Wrather to Star in The Palace Theatre Newark’s Beauty and the Beast This Christmas

The Palace Theatre are delighted to announce that soap superstar Jonathan Wrather will be spending the festive season in Newark as the odious Eugene in the brand new comedy panto Beauty and the Beast this Christmas.

Jonathan is a familiar face to soap fans all over the UK as he is currently playing the controversial character of Pierce Harris in Emmerdale.

Jonathan also played bad boy Joe Carter in Coronation Street from 2002 until 2003 as well as having roles in Fat Friends, Clocking Off, Holby City, Casualty, Silent Witness and the US hit series Bones amongst others.

A RADA trained actor, Jonathan has spent much of his career on stage including playing the iconic character of Harry in the UK tour of When Harry Met Sally, as well as starring in productions such as Edward II, The Duchess of Malfi, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and The Grapes of Wrath. This will be Jonathan’s second appearance in pantomime having previously appeared in the Victoria Theatre Halifax’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk way back in 2003.

Jonathan says "Doing panto is always enormous fun. Playing the baddie in one is great fun too as you get such strong reactions from the audience. Beauty and the Beast is a terrific story and I can’t wait for rehearsals to start this autumn.”

Steve Boden, Managing Director of Imagine Theatre who produce the pantomime says, “We are delighted to be working with Jonathan for the first time this year and thrilled to have him on stage with us at Newark. He is a hugely talented and experienced actor and, as per his character in Emmerdale, portrays a great baddie! Our panto character Eugene is similar to that of Gaston in the Disney version – his vanity makes it impossible for him to believe that Beauty does not love him and so he plots to kill the Beast. He really is a true panto villain!

This is our third year producing panto at the beautiful Palace Theatre in Newark with word spreading around the region about the quality and sales going from strength to strength. We are confident that Beauty and the Beast is going to continue the tradition of top quality panto at the Palace and will be another fabulous show.”

Beauty and the Beast runs from Friday 8 December 2017 until Wednesday 3 January 2018.

Star Studded Line Up for De Montfort Hall Panto

After breaking box office records last year, De Montfort Hall today announces their star studded line up for this year’s spectacular family pantomime Beauty and the Beast.

Richard ‘Dick’ McCourt of children’s TV’s Dick and Dom fame will star alongside the star of ITV’s Heartbeat, David Lonsdale and Leicester’s very own singing sensation Sam Bailey; who returns for a second year. Also returning again is everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Martin Ballard, from BBC Radio Leicester.

Antony Flint, De Montfort Hall General Manager, said “I’m really, really pleased with the line-up, and not just because it provides the celebrity that people always expect from us, but also because it gives us a great platform for all the gags, comedy and mayhem that Leicester has come to expect from the De Montfort Hall Panto”.

Children’s television star Richard McCourt has been part of the BAFTA Award winning duo Dick and Dom for twenty years and has appeared in some of the most popular shows in CBBC history including Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow, The Legend of Dick and Dom and Absolute Genius amongst others.

David Lonsdale is an accomplished singer and theatre actor but is probably best known for his TV work in the role of David Stockwell in the long running TV series Heartbeat and as a teenage Peter Barlow in Coronation Street.

Leicester’s Sam Bailey shot to fame in 2013 when she won X-Factor and proceeded to have a Christmas number one as well as a number one album. Since then Sam has gone from strength to strength, releasing her second album in 2016 as well as touring as Mama Morton in Chicago and this year sees her touring the UK in her Sing My Heart Out tour.

Sam Said “I’m so excited to be back on home turf at De Montfort Hall again this year. I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast too so it’s a double bonus for me.  I had a great time last year and I can’t wait to see everyone again this Christmas.”

No Leicester panto would be complete without BBC Leicester broadcaster Martin Ballard who’s donning the dame’s frock once again, as he returns for his seventh pantomime season at De Montfort Hall.

Steve Boden, managing director of Imagine Theatre who co-produce the pantomime with De Montfort Hall, commented “We are really excited about our Beauty and the Beast cast. We are delighted to welcome Richard and David for their first De Montfort Hall pantomime; and it is great to have both Sam and Martin back again this year as in addition to being outstanding performers they are both very well known and involved in the local community and give the show a real Leicester feel”.

Beauty and the Beast runs from Saturday 16th December 2017 until Sunday 7th January 2018, and with the panto breaking box office records last year we advise people to book as early as possible for this ‘beauty’ of a show.

Beacon Arts Centre have a Beauty of a panto coming this Christmas!

The Beacon Arts Centre are delighted to announce that they are fully cast for their spectacular family panto Beauty and the Beast, and recently the panto mayhem began when the cast got together for the photo shoot.

 In addition to the previously announced Still Game stars Jane McCarry and Mark Cox are Jimmy Chisholm as Dame Betty, Lee Samuel as Boabby, David Rankine as Hunter, Brooke Allen as Beauty and Liam Mulvey as the Beast.

 This will be Lee’s second year at the Beacon Arts Centre and returns by popular demand after playing the hilarious Wishee Washee in Aladdin last year. The Greenock Telegraph said “it was undoubtedly Lee Samuel, aka Aladdin’s wee brother Wishee Washee...who raised the biggest laugh of the evening”

 Jimmy Chisholm spent last festive season at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock as Mother Goose and is delighted to be joining the Beauty and the Beast cast in Greenock this year.

 A familiar face on television Jimmy has appeared in the recent series Mountain Goats, Take the High Road, Rab C Nesbitt, Hamish Macbeth, Taggart and The Bill as well as the films Braveheart with Mel Gibson and Mrs Brown with Dame Judi Dench.

 For Brooke Allan this will be her first time in Beauty and the Beast where she takes on the role of the heroine, Beauty.

 “I love the story of Beauty and the Beast as it encourages people to see beyond a person’s appearance and not to judge them based on how they look. I love the relationship between Beauty and the Beast as I feel she is brave to allow herself to get to know him and accept him for who he is.”

 David Rankine will be playing the arrogant Hunter, sidekick to the evil Nightshade, who is determined to destroy the Beast and win Beauty for himself.

 “My character is not very likeable at all but it is great fun getting booed. I am growing a rather sleazy moustache for the part as well which is hilarious.”

 Don’t miss your chance to see this fabulous cast when Beauty and the Beast opens on Friday 9 December. The show runs until Saturday 31 January 2016.

Beauty-ful panto at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

The Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock are delighted to announce that they are fully cast for their spectacular family pantomime Beauty and the Beast and the cast recently met up for their photo shoot.

 Gary Morrison, James McAnerney and David J Higgins will be joining the previously announced River City stars Sally Howitt as Nightshade and Billy McElhaney as Angus along with Fraser Boyle as Dame Betty and Amber Howland as Beauty.

 Gary is thrilled to be returning to the Palace for the third time to take on the role of the comic, Boabby.

 “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of the comic this year as in my previous years at Kilmarnock I have been the baddies sidekick each time which were fabulous comedy roles. It will be such an honour to be lead comic this year as I have a lot of experience in this role.  For me I always enjoy the interaction with the audience and playing lead comic will be a real pleasure.

 “I love panto in Kilmarnock because of how much the audiences are right up for a laugh and a good fun few hours. The pantomimes are always well supported which shows what a fabulous community spirit they have in Kilmarnock. Also the staff at The Palace are always so lovely and warm which makes you feel at home straight away.”

 For James McAnerney Beauty and the Beast marks his fifth pantomime at the Palace and yet again he is playing the baddie, but he doesn’t mind being cast as the villain, in fact he rather enjoys it.

 “Being the baddie is so much fun, as you get to play good and bad. Usually the baddie always has to become friends with the rest of the characters before being horrible and nasty. And also because the baddies always gets loads of booze - oops sorry, boo's!”

 “Baddies can be very iconic characters. My favourite baddie has to be Darth Vader, his presence the voice, everything, but the best panto baddie for me is Hook as everything about him is scary -especially his right hand. My character this year is rather vain but I don't think I'm vain in real life, but I do like to look in the mirror, just to...(dramatic pause).... Reflect (sorry the panto jokes will be better I promise!).”

 David J Higgins reprises the role he played in Reading in 2012 for producers Imagine Theatre when he takes on the role of the Beast.

 “Beast is a great character to play as he starts off as a bit of a baddie but then as the show continues his character completely transforms.”

 With such a fabulous line up Beauty and the Beast promises to be a spectacular family treat for the whole family this Christmas. The show runs from Saturday 26 November until Friday 30 December 2016.

Spa Centre Leamington have a Beauty of a Cast!

The Royal Spa Centre are delighted to announce that they are now fully cast for their spectacular family pantomime Beauty and the Beast and recently they saw the panto mayhem begin when the cast got together for the photo shoot.

 As previously announced JP McCue will be playing Dame Dolly Do It, Sean Dodds is Willy Do It and Jamie Sheerman is Pimple. They will be joined by Carly Burns as Beauty, David Gilbrook as Beauty’s father, Emma Jane Wylde as the Enchantress, Daniel Tawse as Eugene and Matt Lee Steer as Beast.

 Last year Carly played Cinderella at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax and is delighted to be taking on the role of Beauty at the Spa Centre this year. “I am looking forward to playing Beauty as although she is kind and gentle she is also quite tough. She isn’t afraid to stand up to the Beast, but at the same time her character allows her to see past appearances.”

 David Gilbrook is a very experienced panto performer but this will be his first year at the Spa Centre and he can’t wait.

 “I am looking forward to appearing in panto at the Spa Centre as I have been to the venue but never performed there. Last year I played Baron Hardup at the Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple and they let me loose with my tap shoes in the finale so I may try and sneak a little tap routine in again this year!”

 David’s Cinderella co-star from Barnstaple last year, Emma Jane Wylde, will once again play alongside him as she takes on the role of Enchantress. Emma, who is from Coventry can’t wait to cast some more panto spells.

 “Last year I played the Fairy Godmother and this year I get to be the Enchantress so hopefully some of this magical ability will rub off on me soon! I am delighted to be at the Spa Centre this year as it means I get to be at home for Christmas which is wonderful, and I have friends who have appeared in the Spa Centre pantos so I know how great they are.”

 Both Daniel Tawse and Matt Lee Steer appeared in Jack and the Beanstalk last year where Daniel was in the ensemble and Matt was probably unrecognisable as he played the King and was also operating the terrifying Giant Blunderbore.

Don’t miss out on seeing this fabulous cast. Beauty and the Beast runs from Saturday 3 to Saturday 31 December 2016 and with some performances already sold out we recommend booking quickly for this magical festive treat.