Robin Hood - Palladium

I wouldn’t read too much into the purple background and gold lettering. Many different pantos have had that this year aside from Sleeping Beauty. I’ve always understood that they choose the title based on what name they can get. There was a very strong rumour the year they did Goldilocks that it would be Mother Goose but their choice, Sir Ian Mckellen, didn’t happen. Realistically, at thus stage in the year, I would think they’re at the “bandying names about stage”. Concrete plans ordinarily start to emerge about Easter.

Whatever the title is, Paul Zerdin needs some new material. His act hasn’t differed one iota since Cinderella.

A few professional productions have popped up in the last few years, often as a special "easter" or "half-term" panto, but for me it doesn't have that Christmas panto feel to it.

Also, my issue with the Little Mermaid as a panto would likely be the same problem I have with Beauty and the Beast as a panto - they'll just rip off the Disney musical version somehow.

I go to the Canterbury one every year and Ben Roddy's been doing it for a decade now. But they change the cast around him, so he's usually the only person who comes back year on year. Sometimes they bring back a familiar face from a few years ago (e.g Mister Maker this year), but that's rarely consecutive years. And you're right, he has new material each time - there are of course some elements that never change (ghost gag bench, finding a man, certain punchlines), but it always feels fresh because he does them with new people. 

There is something to be said for familiarity. One of the most successful pantos near myself is Berwick Kaler in York. They’ve had the sand company for over 30 years but it’s all brand new stuff each time. People go there for the familiarity and the same actors. What they have though, which the palladium doesn’t, is respect for the audience. They just assume people will come back because of the names they have. The whole panto needs a refresh imho. Having Peter Pan where the signature flying effect is Smee and not Peter just because it’s Julian Clary isn’t right.

Hugh Jackman is going to make his West End debut in a panto? Not a transfer of any of his broadway hits or something new?

Plus the economics of a short Christmas run and Hughs salary wouldn't add up

Don't see it

The only thing I'll say is financially it does work - the headliner for palladium panto does get paid around 100k a week, and that's not a million miles from the 125k a week he was getting for Boy From Oz and MM so like...it's possible but I feel like more people would have heard mumblings!

If it happens I'll be gobsmacked, but the finances aren't a million miles away I don't think so like, it's not totally out of the question on that front 😂😂

A panto salary for a lot of celebs is actually probably comparable with a Broadway "name" lead so its economics add up better than one might think. There are some who get paid absurd amounts just for the Xmas season all over the country.

I've also heard, although I don't know if it's true, that the Palladium panto doesn't actually turn that much in terms of actual profit, and is instead a large cog in the much larger "Crossroads" machine, so that particular production (sets, costumes etc) enters the Crossroads circuit and makes plenty more money down the line for them.

If the headline is on ~100k, what ballpark price are the others (i.e. Julian) on?

I think if this turns out to be true, the (even higher) prices will more than compensate whatever Jackman’s fee would be.