Member Article

Countdown to Panto for Gateshead!

New Indoor Theatre at Gateshead International Stadium 8 – 30 December 2017

Legendary panto star Maxi Peters writes, directs and stars in this year’s festive extravaganza from Newcastle Panto Company; Sleeping Beauty, playing at Gateshead International Stadium from 8 -30 December 2017.

Sisters Lottie and Dottie Stottie (Maxi alongside panto stalwart Bob Stott) are two canny lasses from Gateshead serving as head housekeepers to the royal household of North Bumbria, where Lottie’s son Norman (Brian Lonsdale) affectionately nicknamed Numpty, is training to be the royal jester.

The Royal family is put under strain when King Elvis Bumble (Kevin O’Keefe) and Queen Bella (Christina Dawson) forget to invite Fairy Carabosse (Philippa Wilson) to their daughter Princess Aurora’s (Emily Swan) birthday party/christening, and a wicked spell is cast to ensure that if the princess pricks her finger she will sleep for a hundred years! Bah humbug to those who would say that’s one way to avoid the royal jester’s trainee period.

Fairy Merryweather (Sarah Badger) comes to the rescue with a counter spell, and, as in all good pantomimes, love finds a way to overcome evil, and handsome Prince Berb of Bedlington (James Hedley) rocks up at the end to take all the glory and reawaken the sleeping princess with true love’s first kiss. Ahhhh!

Maxi Peters said: “This is a story specially written for the people of the North East by people from the North East! We wouldn’t be able to perform our traditional pantomimes without our rendition of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ but this year we have lots of other surprises in store!

“Newcastle Panto Company has always delivered traditional Christmas panto promising two hours of laughter, music, enchantment and happiness, and we’re delighted to be bringing this to the new Indoor Theatre at Gateshead International Stadium.

“With a new modern venue and facilities, served by excellent transport links and its own Metro station, together with our extensive fan base, we’re already set for a sell out this Christmas!”

Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Councillor John McElroy added:

“Gateshead International Stadium has a reputation for bringing interesting and different events to the borough and having a panto here for the very first time is a great addition to that.

“I’m sure people in Gateshead will be delighted at the prospect of having panto right on their door step, and with such easy public transport access available, I’m sure we’ll also draw crowds from further afield to ensure this panto season is a sure fire hit!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nicky Mckeen .