Pantomimes across Kent this Christmas
Get ready to boo and hiss as panto season is in front of us. Here's our guide to pantomimes across the county to get you feeling really festive:
PETER PAN, ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD
EastEnders' hard man Steve McFadden will swap the streets of Walford for Dartford as he steps into his role as baddie Captain Hook in Peter Pan. He will be joined by swashbuckling shipmate and comedian Andy Ford, (Mr Smee), Joe Sleight (Peter Pan) and Keisha Atwell (Tiger-Lily) - and not forgetting Bill the Croc, a giant special effects reptile.
The show runs from Saturday, December 14 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. Book at orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.
PETER PAN, ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
EastEnders and Holby City actor Paul Bradley will be playing a full-on baddie for the first time when he steps on stage as Captain Hook in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas. The swashbuckling adventure at the Assembly Hall Theatre will also feature Lloyd Warbey from Disney’s Art Attack as Peter; Holly Atterton from Nick Junior’s Go Go Go as Tinker Bell, Hollyoaks’ Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Darling and, returning for a third year as the Dame will be Quinn Patrick as Mrs Smee.
The show runs from Saturday, December 7 until Sunday, January 5, 2020. See assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01892 530613.
CINDERELLA, CENTRAL THEATRE, CHATHAM
Jordan Productions and the Central Theatre in Chatham are bringing EastEnder Lucy Benjamin to the stage as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella this Christmas. Channel 5's Milkshake's Derek Moran, who was in panto in Tunbridge Wells last year, will play Dandini in the show with Jessica Croll as Cinderella. The show runs from Thursday, December 12 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. Book tickets for the show at medwayticketslive.co.uk or call the box office on 01634 338338.
MOTHER GOOSE, MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY
This year's pantomime from the Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Productions stars Ben Roddy as Mother Goose with Medway's Dr Ranj as well as EastEnders star Jenna Russell and local favourite Lloyd Hollett. It will run from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, January 12, 2020. Tickets from £13 to £54.50 are available at marlowetheatre.com or call 01227 787787.
PETER PAN, EM FORSTER THEATRE, TONBRIDGE
Wicked Productions are back for a fourth year at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge after last year's Jack and the Beanstalk broke box office records. The show, which runs from Friday, December 13 to Sunday, January 5, 2020, stars Tom Swift as Smee and TV star Michael Fenton Stevens as Sea Dog Sally. Joining the pirate crew as the dastardly Captain Hook is Chris Ellison - DCI Frank Burnside from The Bill - and David Young as Peter Pan, with local talent Lauren Brindley as Wendy. For tickets go to emftheatre.com or call the box office on 01732 304241.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE WOODVILLE, GRAVESEND
EastEnders' Aaron Sidwell will step into the world of panto as Prince Marius and the Beast in The Woodville's show this Christmas. Maidstone-born Aaron, who now lives in Gravesend and played Steven Beale in long-running soap, will be joined by Robert Pearce as the Dame and Leanne Jones as Fairy Oh La La. Belle will be played by ex-Disneyland Paris dancer and cruise ship singer, Ashleigh Cavanagh while Rob Cummings will be Clarence Casanova. The panto will run from Friday, December 6, to Wednesday, January 1. Book at thewoodville.co.uk or call the box office on 01474 337500.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, HAZLITT THEATRE, MAIDSTONE
Fresh from his role in Channel 4's Hollyoaks, former The X-Factor and Dancing On Ice star Jake Quickenden will play Baddie Danon in the Hazlitt Theatre’s panto, Beauty and the Beast, this Christmas. Beauty will be played by Martha-Frances Henry, with Sarah Hooper as the Enchantress and Jon Conway as Doc. Beast will be played by Will Elliot, while former Maidstone Grammar School student William Hodges will play DC. The show is at the Earl Street venue from Saturday, November 30 until Tuesday, December 31. Book at parkwoodtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 01622 758611.
WIZARD OF OZ, SWALLOWS LEISURE CENTRE, SITTINGBOURNE
Harry Potter star Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley, will star as the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz at the Sittingbourne centre this Christmas. Alongside him as Dorothy will be Melissa Suffield - best known for playing EastEnders' Lucy Beale - while the Wicked Witch of the West will be played by Soheila Clifford who made it to the judges' houses on The X-Factor in 2016. The show will also feature performances from the Kent School of Dance. The show runs from Sunday, December 15, to Tuesday, December 24. Book tickets starting at £9 at sittingbournepanto.co.uk or call 01795 420420. Tickets start from £9.
ALADDIN, STAG THEATRE, SEVENOAKS
Danny Beard returns to the Sevenoaks for Aladdin this year, with Silly Billy, played by Ant Payne, and Jazette Amos. The show promises a six-piece band, gospel choir and even some world class circus, and runs from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. Book your tickets at sevenoakspanto.com or call 01732 450175.
ALADDIN, CHURCHILL THEATRE, BROMLEY
Christopher Biggins will be taking on the role of Widow Twankey alongside Rikki Jay, Max Fulham and Yazdan Qafouri who will play Wishee, Washee and Aladdin respectively in the Bromley theatre's panto this Christmas. Produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s largest pantomime producer, the show will be at the Churchill Theatre from Saturday, December 7 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. To book, visit churchilltheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 020 3285 6000.
SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS, LEAS CLIFF HALL, FOLKESTONE
Thomas Redgrave, who won Britain's Got Talent with musical theatre group Collabro, will play Prince Benedict in the theatre's first commercial pantomime in 15 years this Christmas. Starring alongside him will be Andre Vincent as Dame Dolly Dolittle, Phil Redid as Muddles, Dave Lynn as the Wicked Queen and Naomi Slater as Snow White. Award-winning pantomime producers Paul Holman Associates are behind the show, which runs from Friday, December 13 until Tuesday, December 31. To book tickets, visit atgtickets.com/folkestone or call the box office on 0844 871 3015.
PETER PAN, ASTOR THEATRE, DEAL
This year for the festive season Gary Starr Pantomimes present Peter Pan, a favourite story of all times, a tale of wonder and magic. Join Peter Pan on his adventures in Neverland as he tries to outwit the villainous Captain Hook. The show runs from Wednesday, December 18 to Tuesday, December 31. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for under 16s. Find out more at https://theastor.org or call 01304 370220.
JACK & THE BEANSTALK, MARGATE WINTER GARDENS
Join Jack on his journey from accepting magic beans for his cow Daisy to heading up into the clouds on a beanstalk in the show, which runs from Thursday, December 5 to Sunday, December 8.Book at margate-live.com
ALADDIN, THEATRE ROYAL, MARGATE
Wicked Productions along with Margate panto favourites, JezO and Georgia Rowland-Elliott, return to Theatre Royal Margate for their fifth magical year. JezO stars as Wishee Washee with Dave Short as Widow Twankey and local favourite Georgia Rowland-Elliott as Jasmine. The show runs from Saturday, December 7 to Sunday, December 29. Book at margate-live.com or call 01843 292795.
JACK & THE BEANSTALK, BRAKE HALL, ASHFORD
Blue Phoenix Productions Ltd present Ashford's new professional pantomime this Christmas. Join Jack (played by Hue Cox) on his fantastic adventure up the beanstalk to save Daisy the Cow. Laugh out loud at the antics of Paul Ketley as Dame Dolly Trott and her son Silly Billy and Boo at the Evil Fleshcreep, played by Rob Hancox. The show will be staged at Brake Hall, East Hill, Ashford, TN24 8PB, from Monday, December 16 to Saturday, January 4, 2020. Book tickets at ticketsource.co.uk/ashfordpantomime
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