Stage: Don’t be restive – get festive!
Oh yes it is
Less bah humbag and more ‘It’s behind you’, please! Christmas Panto season is upon us and if we are to preserve this great British theatrical tradition we need to support it by getting our bums on those seats. This year, Sleeping Beauty makes a triumphant return to Ropetackle in Shoreham from Sunday 21 to Wednesday 31 December. It stars Monty Python’s Carol Cleveland, hot from the Python’s sell out 02 Arena season, in the role of Queen Maleficent, so you can expect another marvellous, funny and magical family adventure!
Christmas is in full swing at Eastbourne Theatres already and the cast of Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast are deep in rehearsals in preparation for curtain up on Friday 12 December.
Carley Stenson (Hollyoaks and the West End), returning dame Martyn Knight, comic Tucker and Emily Bull (West End) quickly got acquainted with their new panto ‘family’ as they were thrown into a full script read-through within an hour of arriving! Sitting alongside them were the Company Manager, Asst. Company Manager, Choreographer, Musical Director, Lighting Designers, ensemble and backstage crew – performing to an audience from day one!
While the main action is being directed in one part of the Devonshire Park Halls, musical numbers are learnt in another, choreography set to challenge any non-professional dancer (or comic!) is practiced behind the rows of sewing machines and lines are rehearsed under breath in spare corners. Step around the sets dominating floor space as their paint dries and into the sewing workshop, set up to finish the 21 principle costumes and 62 chorus costumes needed for this spectacular panto. Dame Derriere alone has nine costumes this year – two of which need batteries!
Eastbourne shoppers caught a glimpse of Malevolent and Dame Derriere as they switched on the town centre lights on Thursday 4 December as part of the fantastic Chamber of Commerce Stars and Ice appeal.
Beauty and the Beast is at the Devonshire Park Theatre from 12 December 2014 – 11 January 2015, various times. Tickets are priced from £12 – £20 making it the best value pantomime in the south. To book, call the box office on 01323 412000 or visit www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk. For behind-the-scenes Eastbourne Theatres panto access and news, follow @EBTheatres on Twitter and www.facebook.com/EBTheatres. Want to get involved this year? Use #EBPanto on Twitter and Instagram.
If Panto is not for you, then catch one of Richard Durrant’s Candlelit Concerts. The internationallay acclaimed and popular local guitarist Richard Durrant returns with his annual candlelit concert of beautiful wintry music (Saturday 20 December 3pm & 8pm again at Ropetackle in Shoreham, or Sunday 14 December at Latest Musicbar, doors 10.30am, price £16).
