For many families pantomime season marks the start of Christmas celebrations and, amid the current financial gloom, we seem more in need of some festive cheer this year than ever.
Gala Theatre in Durham tends to be the first in the region to open its panto run and this season is no different, with its annual treat opening this Wednesday night for a seven-week run. Once again, it will be offering a twist on a traditional fairytale - albeit with a different team at the helm.
Sleeping Beauty has been written by Gary Kitching and this tale by the actor, screenwriter and playwright sees a young Briar Rose plot to flee, with her dog, from plans to marry her off to the poetry-mad Prince Chad of Middles-boroughly. But the Evil Witch, Karen, is out to cast a curse which will send the princess to sleep for 100 years.
Read more: Guide to 2022 pantos around the North East
This year's panto marks a change from the previous partnership of Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley who both wrote and starred in the in-house show for several years. There will be some familiar faces, however, with Jacob Anderton - last year's Robin Hood - playing King Archibald of Durham-ion whose failure to send Karen an invitation to his daughter's Christening years earlier has incurred her wrath, and Lauren Waine, who also appeared in Robin Hood, as Hester the Jester.
New faces in the cast will include Zoe Lambert, who has been in Emmerdale and Tracy Beaker Returns and here plays the witch, and Chloe Jane Millar as Briar Rose. After its November 23 opening, the panto will run until January 8.
Also making an early start to the pantomime season will be The Customs House in South Shields which will be following up with its own launch on Thursday, November 24 with The Adventures of Robin Hood in Cooksonville. The theatre's "little panto with the big heart" will again feature Ray Spencer, this time as Dame Bella, with local comedian and presenter Alfie Joey playing the Merry Men.
The story apparently sees the Dame all a quiver as men in tights ride through the glen and into Cooksonville forest. As chaos ensues, the Sheriff and his evil henchmen, Feather and Scatter, keep everyone on their toes in an adventure which promises plenty song, dance, "magical Christmas moments" and lots of laughs.
The pantomime will run until January 7. For tickets, from £12, call 0191 454 1234 or see here. For tickets to see Sleeping Beauty at Gala Theatre, where tickets are priced from £7 and family discounts are available, call the box office on 03000 266 600 or book here.
Opening dates for other pantomimes across the region will then follow suit, from next week: for the full show guide see here.
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