Sam Bailey set to sing her heart out with panto return at De Montfort Hall

X-Factor winner and Leicester favourite Sam Bailey will be starring in pantomime this Christmas at De Montfort Hall.

De Montfort Hall and Imagine Theatre have announced her return alongside BBC Radio Leicester’s Martin Ballard, in this year’s family pantomime Peter Pan.

Sam Bailey is back for her third consecutive year, winning the hearts of theatre-goers last year with her phenomenal singing voice in the Hall’s best-ever panto, Beauty and the Beast.

Sam, currently starring in the UK tour of Fat Friends, said of her return “I’m so excited to be back in Leicester this Christmas. I love doing panto – it’s such a great show for families and it’s really fun to do. This year Peter Pan is going to be amazing.”

Martin Ballard will don a frock once again to play the loveable Dame character with further star names for the rest of the cast to be announced shortly.

Antony Flint, De Montfort Hall General Manager, said “We are absolutely delighted to have Sam and Martin back on board. Over the last few years they have proved themselves to be pantomime favourites. We hope to build on the success of last year’s panto and things are already looking good with this year’s ticket sales at a record high. We are looking forward to announcing further star castings shortly.” 

Peter Pan will take audiences on a magical adventure to Neverland, as the Darling children meet Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys and of course the villainous Captain Hook. There will be flying (no ladders though!), fairy dust, traditional songs, dance, slapstick and a ticking crocodile – everything that makes a traditional De Montfort Hall pantomime.

Auditions will be held in June for the junior chorus and the roles of John and Michael. Further information on this will be available shortly at demontforthall.co.uk

Peter Pan runs from Saturday 15 December to Sunday 6 January 2019. Adult tickets from £14.50, with children and group rates available. For more information or to book tickets call 0116 233 3111 or go to demontforthall.co.uk

Justin Fletcher Returns for Pantomime at The Hexagon

The Hexagon in Reading are delighted to announce that children’s TV megastar Justin Fletcher will be returning to star in their spectacular family pantomime Peter Pan.

The local star is known to millions of children all over the world for his award winning television shows including Justin’s House, Gigglebiz and Something Special, starring Mr Tumble.  

This will be Justin’s sixth panto at The Hexagon as he takes on the role of hapless trainee pirate Mr Smee in a special panto version of the popular children’s classic written by BAFTA Award winning writer Will Brenton.

Steve Boden, who regularly directs The Hexagon panto as well as being Managing Director of Imagine Theatre who produce the panto says “We are delighted to be working with Justin once again. He is such a natural talent with a genuine love of performing, particularly of the sort of slapstick humour that is part and parcel of panto.”

Justin’s love of slap stick humour comes from being a huge fan of legendary duo Laurel and Hardy since the age of five and as regular panto-goers at The Hexagon will know, he is never shy of taking a custard pie in the face during a show!

Life as one of the most popular figures in children’s television is always hectic. Before spending Christmas in Snow White at the Hexagon, Justin took on a different role, that of Mr Perks in the West End production of The Railway Children at the King’s Cross Theatre. Following on from panto Justin is currently starring in a UK wide tour of Justin’s Party – all of this in addition to his myriad of filming commitments with the BBC.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see Justin in Peter Pan this Christmas. The show runs from Saturday 9 December 2017 until Sunday 7 January 2018 and tickets are already ‘flying’ out of the door!

Neverland adventure starts for the team at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax

The Victoria Theatre in Halifax are delighted to announce that they are fully cast for their spectacular family panto Peter Pan and recently the panto mayhem begin when the cast got together for the photo shoot.

 As previously announced Halifax’s favourite comic Neil Hurst returns to play trainee pirate Smee and he will be joined by some new faces with Max Cane donning a dress as Nanny McSmee, Kieran Morris as Peter Pan, Lucy Keirl as Tiger Lily and Katie Faye as Wendy. These will be joined by Anna Lakin who will take on the role of Tinker Bell this year, having appeared in the ensemble for the last two seasons, and Andrew Piper who returns to the venue he played Beast in back in 2012 as the fearsome Captain Hook

 Kieran is delighted to be reprising the role he played at Eden Court in 2015. “I love playing Peter as he is quite a complex character. He is brave and he is caring as well as being selfish and reckless at times. I also love getting to fly – it is quite nerve racking the first few times but great fun once you get the hang of it.”

 Max has worked in entertainment for a number of years. He has appeared in many popular television shows including The Bill, EastEnders, Wire in the Blood, New Tricks and The Last Detective amongst many others. He has also appeared in the West End in Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Piccadilly Theatre and starred in numerous productions at Chichester Festival Theatre as well as playing dame in pantomime.

 Andrew Piper is relishing the prospect of playing a baddie and says “I am very excited to be playing Hook as he is one of the most iconic baddies in children’s literature. I also get to have a sword which I can’t wait for!”

 Stephen Boden, Managing Director of Imagine Theatre who produce the panto says “This is only the second year we have ever put on Peter Pan and I am thrilled to have such a fabulous cast for its Halifax debut.”

 Come and join us for an adventure in Neverland. Peter Pan runs from Saturday 10th December 2016 until Monday 2nd January 2017.