To them, to you...
It’s behind you! Well actually, it’ll be right in front of you, in full frontal panto glory. Bringing us some much needed festive cheer, the Theatre Royal Nottingham and pantomime producers Qdos Entertainment have announced that a socially-distanced pantomime will be staged at the city centre venue once national restrictions are lifted, with an all-new production of Sleeping Beauty thanks to support from The National Lottery. Starring absolute top lad Paul Chuckle and funny man Ben Nickless, as well street dance troupe Flawless, the show will play from Saturday 12 December for a strictly limited 3-week run.
The superstars will be joined by hilarious pantomime dame David Robbins as The Queen, back again after starring as Ugly Sister in Cinderella in 2012 and west end musical stars Kimberly Blake, fresh from her west end role in Pretty Woman as The Enchantress, and Hannah Grace Lawson as Princess Beauty. Completing the line-up is Jack McNeill as the Prince, marking his third consecutive Theatre Royal pantomime having starred in the title role of Peter Pan, and Dandini in last year’s production of Cinderella. This year’s pantomime will be directed by Guy Unsworth, who also directed last year’s production.
The venue is going to every length to make sure customers, staff and performers are all kept safe, and these socially distanced pantomime performances will adhere to all national government guidance and local restrictions. Measures in place to keep everyone safe will include socially distanced seating, electronic ticketing and flexible returns policy, one-way systems, hand sanitiser stations, temperature-checking and enhanced cleaning procedures. For more details on what a socially distanced visit to the venue will look like, check out their COVID-19 measures.
The production is able to go ahead thanks to the support of The National Lottery, which will give thousands of theatregoers, in Nottingham and across the country, the chance to enjoy socially distanced pantomime this Christmas. The show is being staged as a result of an initiative between The National Lottery and Qdos Entertainment which is providing financial support for theatres to stage socially distanced, live pantomimes this festive season. Cheers to them for bringing us some sparkle.
Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture & IT at Nottingham City Council, Councillor Dave Trimble, says: “Pantomime plays an enduring and much-loved part in our city’s rich cultural life, a festive highlight which has marked each and every year since the Theatre Royal’s very first pantomime in 1865.
“Many people’s first memory of coming to the theatre will have been a family trip to the panto.
“Once theatres are allowed to safely reopen again, we very much look forward to welcoming audiences back this Christmas, after what has been an incredibly challenging year for us all. We can’t wait to see everyone and share some much-needed festive cheer!”
This year’s production, created especially for the Theatre Royal Nottingham in this unprecedented year, will be a riotously funny, one-act celebration of pantomime, packed full of comedy and laughter and allow audience members the opportunity to come safely together and enjoy the magic of the much-loved and unique art form this festive season.
The previously advertised production of Robin Hood will be staged in 2021 and existing bookers have already been contacted with details of their new tickets.
Tickets are on sale now, so get them snapped up ASAP. All the joy of this panto will help end the year with big smiles, and what better way to see off a tough year with a grin on yer face?
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