A group of children with sight impairments will get to enjoy a whole new experience when much-loved show Disney On Ice comes to Newcastle in December.
A VIP invitation is going out to 10 youngsters and their families who will have the chance to visit behind the scenes of the popular ice extravaganza where they will meet its star figure skaters and learn more about the show through touch and hearing. And that will help add to their Disney experience when they take their seats for a performance.
The invitation results from social enterprise company North East Sight Matters joining forces with Disney On Ice which is to make a return to Utilita Arena for a December 7-11 run over the festive season. NESM works with visually impaired children, young people and their families to help improve their opportunities in life and that includes arranging accessible and safe environments so that they can try different experiences.
Read more: Newcastle talent lands star role in pantomime
These help the youngsters to become more creative, independent and self-aware. On their upcoming visit to the Arena, 10 children from South Tyneside and County Durham will have a behind-the-scenes afternoon tour and exclusive access to costumes, props and characters from the show, Dream Big, which features Disney favourites such as Mickey, Minnie, Miguel, Moana, Elsa, Belle and Genie.
They will also hear how all the on-ice drama is produced by the sound, lighting and special effects teams. And later they will join the audience for the evening performance.
The children were told about their surprise trip during a NESM afternoon tea party and among them was six-year-old Hope Smith, from Hartlepool, who was very excited about the prospect of her favourite Disney story Frozen being brought to life on ice.
Others included eleven-year-old Oscar Bulmer, from County Durham, who was most looking forward to the section in the performance about Dia de los Meurtos in Coco; Teddy Berriman, aged 10 and also from Durham, who said he liked all of the action in the show; and 11-year-old Freya Carr-Wright, from Gateshead, who said: “It’s just going to be so magical!”
Penny Dane, director at NESM, said: “We love organising exciting, stimulating events for our young people and their families and being able to join forces with the most famous mouse in the world is a big achievement!
"The response from the children when we announced we were having this exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunity and then going to see the show was truly amazing. They are all thoroughly looking forward to it and can’t wait for this pre-Christmas treat.”
Steven Armstrong, regional vice-president of Feld Entertainment which produces Disney On Ice, said the team is delighted to offer the children a private preview and chance to get up-close and personal with many aspects of the show, adding: "I’m sure this trip will make many much-loved memories for all of the families involved.”
Tickets to the Disney On Ice run at the city's Utilita Arena from December 7-11 cost from £18. For more information about the show see here and to book see here.
- Hadrian's Wall fund-raiser for charity helping visually impaired children
- Best free or cheap North East days out as chosen by readers
- 56 free things for families to do
- North East's first drive-thru enjoys sweet success in Sunderland
- New dates and plans announced for Great North Junior and Mini runs
- Sinaglong Encanto comes to Sunderland
