There was plenty of early festive cheer around in Newcastle on Tuesday afternoon when a pantomime cast swung into action to offer a taste of what to expect this Christmas.
Lead members of Beauty and the Beast, this year's panto at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, took to the stage for a show preview and were then set to head into the city in their elborate costumes for a photo-shoot which could not fail to catch the eye of passers-by. Among them was former Sugababes' star Amelle Berrabah, who takes the role of the Good Fairy.
Local panto regular and comedy favourite Charlie Richmond, who this year plays Daveed Granola, introduced the on-stage action which saw Amelle add to the upbeat mood by belting out Sugababes hit About You Now. And - at the insistence of Charlie - she practised the Geordie accent too.
Read more: Sage Christmas bill includes food-theme Home Alone and The Snowman
He told her: "I promised you, this Christmas I am going to teach you how to speak Geordie" before she gave it a go, saying 'alreet pete' instead of 'pet'. Afterwards she joked of her attempt "please don't judge me on that!"
Amelle, who had number one hit Never Leave You with Tinchy Stryder after leaving girl group Sugababes, added: "I'm very excited to be here - I love the atmosphere in Newcastle and the people." Fellow music star, Union J's JJ Hamblett will be seen in the dual role of the Beast and Prince in the much-loved fairytale story this December although the former boyband member, who featured on The X Factor, was not able to make the panto launch.
But sharing the spotlight, with another note-perfect singing performance, was local talent Beth Oxley-Clarke who is to star opposite him as Belle. The 25-year-old, from the West End of Newcastle, was picked for the lead following a round of auditions at the city theatre in September.
The Search for Belle followed a similar previous hunt by the panto's producer Enchanted Entertainment to find a North East singer to join the main cast in 2019, which resulted in Gateshead's Hannah Wales landing a female lead in Aladdin. This time around it was Beth who impressed the audition panel and she soon will join her fellow cast members for the start of rehearsals for the show which is to have a whopping run of 54 performances at the Tyne Theatre between December 9 and January 8.
She said she finds it "absolutely incredible" that she will be co-starring in the Tyne Theatre panto this year rather than watching it as she normally would be. "It's extra special," she said.
Also on fine form on Tuesday was Karen The Mam’s Lewis Denny - dressed to impress as The Dame - who once again will be adding to the traditional panto mayhem. After their stage debut, the cast were due to have their pictures taken at The Lit & Phil, further down Westgate Road from the theatre, and at the Maldron Hotel in Newgate Street which is a show sponsor.
For tickets to Beauty and the Beast, which also will feature a live band and - following its success last year - the use of 3D, see here.
Read Next
