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Post by Tibidabo on Jan 1, 2018 16:14:53 GMT
Boxing day shows always have terrible audiences anyway, not in terms of numbers as they are always sold out, but the audiences are always full up with a Christmas's worth of food and arguments, the kids would rather be home with their new toys and DVDs, the cast are missing their friends and families... No fun for anyone that day. You've hit the nail on the head here. When I used to chaperone pantos NONE of the kids wanted to perform on Boxing day, despite the organisers thinking it was one of the 'special' shows. They used to give each of the 3 teams of dancers either Christmas eve, Boxing day or the last show, thinking they were all equally special. To be honest, the only one they all really wanted to do was Press Night! We always go on Christmas eve. That's generally got a good atmosphere.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 19, 2018 22:56:03 GMT
Really sad to hear another example of actors putting in the work and not getting paid Sounds like Denise Welsh was right to get out/get pushed out when she did.
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Jun 23, 2018 12:33:30 GMT
Reviving this thread for the 2018 pantomime season, I have just booked a seat for "Aladdin" at the Hackney Empire on 29 November taking advantage of the very generous Early Bird reductions for some performances if booked before 31 August, being £18.50 for seats otherwise £38 and £42.
This is the 20th anniversary of the Hackney Empire pantomime with the same team of creatives who have produced such outstanding results consistently year after year and, as an added bonus, Clive Rowe is returning to give his celebrated Widow Twanky. Clive Rowe's dame is the best ever! – oh no it's not! – oh yes it is! Do I hear Biggins and Gary Wilmot shouting me down? Oh no I don't! – Oh yes I do! Oh...…!
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Post by dontdreamit on Jun 23, 2018 14:14:09 GMT
Clive Rowe is fantastic, we saw him for years at the HE! I Might book again for this year if he’s in it again.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2018 18:45:36 GMT
I wonder if Qdos wanted Clive Rowe back for one of their venues again this year but he decided to go back to hackney?
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 24, 2018 13:04:55 GMT
Glad I read this, I saw Rowe with Al Murray last year, was wonderful so will definitely book for this (NOT sitting anywhere near the front!)
I've already got a packed panto season though so I'll see how much I can take! The first one I booked was Aladdin at Wimbledon, Paul Merton is my favourite comedian and should be fantastic!
Then the Palladium of course, Julian Clary alone is worth the price for this one, though it will be a treat seeing Dawn French.
Lastly, Dick Whittinton at the Lyric. Not because of the actors, but actually because it's being written by Cariad Lloyd who is hilarious in Austentatious.
Phew! Just hope I won't get fatigue (Oh no I won't...)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 22:14:37 GMT
It's also been announced that Robert Lindsay will make his panto debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan in Richmond.
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2,262 posts
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Post by theatreian on Jun 25, 2018 21:21:32 GMT
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 25, 2018 21:37:05 GMT
A bit low rent for Birmingham I would say. Are QDOS running out of "stars"?
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6,274 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 25, 2018 21:50:47 GMT
Robert Lindsay is a good coup for Richmond.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2018 23:43:27 GMT
I actually thought that Robert Lindsay would have been a better name for Birmingham as it has had a tradition of attracting big name debuts lately i.e. Joan Collins, Gok Wan, Jane McDonald, Marti Pellow, Beverly Knight and now Meera Syal or even the Palladium (had it been a title with a suitable role for him). Of course, location and other reasons would have been a factor.
But I agree, the Birmingham lineup is pretty 'meh' as it has been for a while now. But if I'm honest, I haven't been to the panto since 2012 with Brian Conley (after going for 10 or so years), and they keep getting good reviews so I can't criticize the casting choices that much. But it is great to see Matt Slack has now become the Hippodrome regular after seeing him many years ago.
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6,274 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 25, 2018 23:53:19 GMT
I actually thought that Robert Lindsay would have been a better name for Birmingham as it has had a tradition of attracting big name debuts lately i.e. Joan Collins, Gok Wan, Jane McDonald, Marti Pellow, Beverly Knight, or even the Palladium (had it been a title with a suitable role for him). Of course, location and other reasons would have been a factor. I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 26, 2018 0:39:19 GMT
I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs. It is probably a combination of the two factors. QDOS will offer "stars" the panto and locations and the actors will decided if they want to do it in that location. Many big names will want to do panto near home so they can commute rather than stay in hotels and spend the Christmas period at home. I would suspect that is why Robert Lindsay is doing panto in Richmond because he can commute from home. The whole thing will be negotiated with some lesser names having less choice in the matter of location!
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2,262 posts
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Post by theatreian on Jun 27, 2018 16:34:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 17:54:40 GMT
I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs. It is probably a combination of the two factors. QDOS will offer "stars" the panto and locations and the actors will decided if they want to do it in that location. Many big names will want to do panto near home so they can commute rather than stay in hotels and spend the Christmas period at home. I would suspect that is why Robert Lindsay is doing panto in Richmond because he can commute from home. The whole thing will be negotiated with some lesser names having less choice in the matter of location! Some performers are linked to one theatre as they are a local draw, others will take the same panto around with often the same supporting cast - John Barrowman always has the Krankies. Joe Pasquale and the late Leslie Grantham did Smee and Hook for years in Peter Pan. I'd agree the bigger the star, the more sway they have. Many years ago they did a TV programme about the E and B pantos which Paul Elliott produced and we saw some discussion about who was going where. I seem to recall they wanted Danny La Rue to go somewhere which was further than he usually went might have been Plymouth/Newcastle etc. They discussed it and Danny agreed to do it if he could have a more central venue the next year and suggested Birmingham. Paul considered this then agreed to it. So there will be trade offs between Producers and performers. Also Britt Ekland had to be convinced to play the villainess having played the fairy/good part for all her previous pantos. The show may still be on YouTube if anyone wants to look for it. Manchester is probably very desirable for Gareth Gates as his partner Faye Brooks works on Corrie which is filmed very close to the theatre and likely lives locally too.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 18:03:01 GMT
The Southampton cast all announced...majority of Qdos pantos now all cast
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Post by carmella1 on Jun 28, 2018 0:43:21 GMT
Still waiting for them to announce either Danny Mac or Charlie Stemp for the Palladium.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2018 9:38:45 GMT
Still waiting for them to announce either Danny Mac or Charlie Stemp for the Palladium. You think it could be Danny for the Palladium? That would be good but previously they’ve done MT stars are the lead prince/princesses
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343 posts
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Post by johartuk on Jun 28, 2018 9:53:57 GMT
I doubt they'd use Charlie Stemp again - they seem to change their Prince/'love interest' each year. I could see them casting Danny Mac, though.
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