Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Whitley Bay Playhouse

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FAYE STEPS INTO PANTO

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Whitley BayPlayhouse

Until Saturday 3^rd January 2016

We have been lucky in seeing a number of great pantomimes this year. This is no exception and as a member of the audience said “this is better than the last one we saw.” The bar has been raised in the region.

So what makes a great panto? One simple element is realising that the audience are as much a part of the show as the cast and crew. No amount of special effects escapes the fact that panto is something you are a part of rather than something that is done to you. In Steve Walls we have a master of ceremonies that fully appreciates how to work the audience. As Muddles he encourages the Whitley Bay crowd to take part and get involved. From the cute children singing Old Macdonalds Farm to the greetings when he walks onto the stage.

Rebecca Shorrocks

Adding to the children’s entertainment is a very talented Rebecca Shorrocks as the daft and friendly Odd Job. In not always reading the situation right, Rebecca frequently gave everyone someone to laugh with.   The Whitley Bay crowd seemed to have a significant younger element of children in compared to other panto’s and it is important that they had jokes they could enjoy.

Rob McVeigh

On to the story… Snow White (Charlotte Chinn) is the fairest of them all in Ooo La La Ville and becomes the love interest of Prince Charming (Rob McVeigh) when he visits looking for a bride. The Wicked Queen (Faye Tozer) is less than impressed and so she demands Snow White is killed in the forest. Rather than kill his friend, Odd Job leaves her in the forest where she decides to have a kip in a house with 7 very small beds…

Faye Tozer

Former Steps star Faye Tozer proves herself to be a decent actor as well as a great singer. She makes a grand entrance with a Queen medley and finishes the show with a crowd pleasing Steps medley. She enjoyed herself as the baddie and courted the boos of the audience. It is surprising that she wasn’t given more opportunities to sing than she was.

The set and costumes are very bright and the special effect with the mirror very effective.  The dancers, including the youngsters from the Hazel Rayson Dance School, didn’t put a foot wrong and felt a part of the story rather than a bolt-on.

Steve Walls

The only quibble really was the decision to put fixed static heads on the dwarves. This meant they had to exaggerate hand gestures to show who was meant to be talking.  The backing tape used impressions tv personalities such as Simon Cowell, Bruce Forsyth and Keith Lemon for each of the dwarves.  This represents, in our opinion, a missed opportunity for the actors from the Tyne Theatre School to really show off their skills.

Snow White is a warm and friendly show that both the young and older members of the audience enjoyed.   

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview:

http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/preview-snow-white-and-seven-dwarfs-at.html

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale now and already selling fast. Call the Playhouse Box Office on 0844 248 1588 or book online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

 

Preview: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Whitley Bay Playhouse

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuideand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide

POP LEGEND FAYE FROM STEPS HEADLINES WHITLEY BAY CHRISTMAS PANTO 2015

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Thursday 10^th December 2015– Saturday 3^rd January 2016

This winter Blue Genie Entertainment return with a Christmas spectacular at the Playhouse Whitley Bay, with the lavish professional pantomime ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. The same creative team that produced last year’s record-breaking panto ‘Beauty and the Beast’ have been brought back together to create another theatrical spectacular in Whitley Bay from 10th December 2015 – 3rd January 2016.

Producer Gary Telfer said:  “We can’t wait to produce ‘Snow White’ this year, it has to be one of the most popular fairytales of them all. It’s got a great cast of TV stars, we are so lucky to have signed Faye Tozer from the legendary pop group Steps. They still have a massive following, Steps were such a huge group so I’m sure there will be plenty of people out there who would like to see Faye, the group have sold over 20 million records worldwide. Faye is a fantastic performer so I’m sure the audience are in for a real treat. We know how popular the Playhouse pantomime was last year, in fact most of the shows sold out so we’re extending the run this year in order to get everyone in. We are keen to continue building the reputation on the Pantomime in Whitley Bay which has grown dramatically over the last 4 years.

 

There will be 46 action-packed performances of ‘Snow White’ at the Playhouse, Whitley Bay from 10th December 2015 – 3rd January 2016. The show features a host of top quality professional performers including Faye Tozer from Steps, Any dream will do finalist Rob McVeigh and back by popular demand for his 6th year local top entertainer and funny man Steve Walls. 

Director Paul Ferguson said:  “It’s going to be great fun for all the family. ‘Snow White’ is a magical story and its our job to make sure the audience get a great show it has something for everyone. We can’t wait to get started with this Christmas production”.

Blue Genie Entertainment are spending tens of thousands of pounds to ensure ‘Snow White’ will be a spectacular family production, bringing together a top cast, amazing costumes, fantastic dance routines, plenty of popular songs to please all ages crazy Dwarfs and the most amazing magic mirror you have ever seen!!

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/preview-snow-white-and-seven-dwarfs-at.html

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale now and already selling fast. Call the Playhouse Box Office on 0844 248 1588 or book online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk

 

News: Sunderland Empire to hold 'Relaxed Performance' of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

SunderlandEmpire to hold 'Relaxed Performance' of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

SunderlandEmpire

Friday 2 January 2015

Special effects will be tuned down and lights will dimmed at Sunderland Empire this festive season to ensure families and people with learning or behavioural disorders such as ASD and ADHD have a more relaxed theatre experience.

Following a successful and popular Relaxed Performance of Cinderella last year, Sunderland Empire will once again hold a performance for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at 2pm, on Friday 2 January 2015. Families will have the chance to see panto legend and star of stage and screen Su Pollard as the dastardly Wicked Queen, alongside Eastenders and Dancing on Ice star, Matt Lapinskas as the Prince and children's TV favourite Andrew Agnew (PC Plum, ex-Balamory) as the side-splitting Muddles the Jester.

Andrew Agnew

Photo: Robert Workman

Ahead of the Relaxed Performance a pre-show familiarisation visit will be available, where groups, families and individuals can come along and explore the venue. This helps audiences prepare for their visit also allowing the opportunity to ask any questions about their visit. Available Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30am - 11.00am until 30 December available at point of booking (subject to availability)

Su Pollard Photo: Robert Workman

A visual story will be provided to support the familiarisation visit and will be offered as a resource to inform audiences about what to expect when coming to the theatre. The visual story has been created in partnership with the North East Autism Society, a registered charity providing personalised services for children, young people and adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

Hollie Coxon, Creative Learning Manager, Sunderland Empire commented:  "The Relaxed Performances are a real team effort in the planning and delivery on the day. We're incredibly lucky to have such brilliant support from the team in general, the Snow White production and the North East Autism Society. For us, it's a real pleasure to work with organisations and families in the preparation for their visit, and to then see so many smiling faces and families at ease at the Relaxed Performance. This year, we have incorporated audience preparation tools, such as Widgit symbol resources specific to the Sunderland Empires production of Snow White.

Matt Lapkinskas Photo: Robert Workman

It's fantastic to offer such an incredible assisted performance, which enables people with a range to needs to engage as an audience at our fabulous festive Pantomime. We are working with ASD groups, people with a range of learning needs, and groups and families with Dementia - and would encourage anyone who requires a more relaxed theatre experience to consider and to get in touch with us.

Audiences will also have the flexibility to leave the auditorium and come and go as they please. There are no latecomer's rules and no one will be asked to be quiet. Quiet space will be available during the performance with activities for anyone who wishes to leave the auditorium."

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a timeless tale and a delightful chance for all the family to enjoy another magical pantomime full of excitement at Sunderland Empire. Audiences can expect exquisite costumes, enchanting sets, music, dance, fun, laughter and of course poisoned apples, a Magic Mirror and the most fabulous Seven Dwarfs you've ever seen!

The Creative Learning Team are available on 0191 5661056 to discuss how we can help support a visit to the Relaxed Performance and to answer any questions.

Tickets:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the Sunderland Empire from
Friday 12 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015.

Tickets priced £10 - £29.50* are on sale now from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland,
the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

*Booking/transaction fees apply to telephone and online sales.

Groups 10+ 0844 8713042 and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

Group Tickets: 10+ £16*pp, Groups 20+ £15*pp and Groups 50*+ £13pp.

Booking Information:

Box Office: 0844 871 3022*

Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042

Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

*Booking fee applies

*Discounts apply to prices A-C and are available at certain shows on the performance schedule. All discounts subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

News: UK Wide Debut For Theatre Royal Panto On Hospital Screens

UK Wide Debut For Theatre Royal

Panto On Hospital Screens

In a UK first, the Newcastle Theatre Royal panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be screened to hospital bedsides in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland this December.

The cast has filmed a special performance of the pantomime, which will be screened for free to 170,000 patients across 180 NHS hospitals on 23 December.

The screenings are the brainchild of local entrepreneur and Theatre Royal Trustee Howard Tait who said: “I have always been passionate about bringing children from hospital to see the panto and seeing their faces light up just made me want to extend this magic to those children who are too sick to leave their beds. With the help of the wonderful panto team at Newcastle Theatre Royal, this has been made possible and I am so proud to see the screenings go totally UK-wide for the first time ever this year; for many this will be a dream come true.”

And cast members of this year’s panto, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, are visiting The Great North Children’s Hospital today to meet some of their youngest and biggest fans, who will watch them perform on the 23 December. Dressed in full costume, the cast will spend time with poorly children and their families, bringing gifts and signing autographs ahead of the screening on the bedside tvs.

Emily Shaw, who plays Snow White, said: “It is a really humbling experience going to visit the children in the hospital because you can see how much it means to them. It’s lovely to think we can bring a bit of the Christmas joy we all experience at the Theatre, to them in their hospital beds both through this visit and by screening the panto to them.”

The hospital screening project is a unique collaboration between the NHS, Newcastle Theatre Royal and Hospedia – the national hospital broadcast network. Ben Packman, Hospedia’s Strategic Development Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide a platform for the Theatre Royal’s pantomime screening.  Our aim is to make the patient experience whilst in hospital as enjoyable as possible and we particularly welcome the opportunity to make the festive period special for all the children in hospital at this time.” The screening of the panto is free to everyone with a bedside tv and will be shown at 2pm on channel 34, with repeat screenings at 4pm and 6pm.

Chief Executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal, Philip Bernays, said: “To be able to screen the show to so many hospitals is absolutely fabulous – Howard has worked very hard planning this project and we are delighted to play our part. Our panto really is one of the best in the world and we are extremely proud of it – it makes sense that the Theatre Royal should lead the way and be the first theatre to achieve this kind of truly national coverage.”

Tickets:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Sunday 18 January 2015. Tickets are available from £12 (a booking fee of 95p - £1.95 will apply to most tickets) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

News: Panto Cast Bring Festive Cheer to Newcastle Children's Wards

Panto Cast Bring Festive Cheer to

Newcastle Children's Wards

The cast of the Newcastle Theatre Royal’s panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will visit four wards at the Great North Children’s Hospital tomorrow morning to bring festive cheer to poorly little ones.

The stars of the show will take time out of their busy schedules – 92 performances in 55 days! – to spend some time chatting to some of their youngest and biggest fans, giving out panto gifts and signing plenty of autographs.

The Theatre Royal panto is often cited as the fastest selling panto in the country and one of the most successful in the world. The show runs longer than every other panto in the region and now stands at a staggering 92 performances. Snow White has already broken all Box Office Records to become the Theatre’s biggest ever selling pantomime - over 83,000 tickets have already been sold and two additional performances added due to continuous growing demand - on Sunday 18 January at 1pm and 5pm.

As Clive Webb and Danny Adams’ Ten Year anniversary production, Snow White is the Theatre Royal’s most spectacular show yet - jam-packed full of more fun, adventure and comedy than ever before, as well as non-stop magic and surprises galore. As always, there is plenty of glitz and glamour along with sensational musical numbers and breath-taking fairytale sets and costumes, after all, this isn’t just panto – it’s Theatre Royal panto!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – ‘The Fairest Panto in all the Land’ is proudly supported by local Media Partner Heart FM.

Tickets:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Sunday 18 January 2015. 

Tickets are available from £12 (a booking fee of 95p - £1.95 will apply to most tickets) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Preview: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Sunderland Empire

Hi-ho, Hi-ho – it’s off to

Sunderland we go!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Sunderland Empire

12 December 2014 – 4 January 2015. 

Panto stars promise a truly wicked Christmas in Sunderland as the much loved classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs graces the stage from 12 December 2014 – 4 January 2015. 

So get set to travel deep into the magical forest on a very special pantomime adventure as we welcome back Martin Dodd for UK Productions, one of the country’s leading producers of musical theatre and pantomime both nationally and internationally, and the company behind the high-flying Peter Pan(2012) and enchanting Cinderella(2013) at the Sunderland Empire.

Panto legend and star of stage and screen Su Pollard will take on the dastardly role of the Wicked Queen, alongside Eastenders and Dancing on Ice star, Matt Lapinskas as the Prince and children’s TV favourite Andrew Agnew (PC Plum - Balamory) as the side-splitting Muddles the Jester. Mamma Mia’s Victoria Serra will play the beautiful Snow White and North East Dame Phillip Meeks will play the delightful Nurse Penny Well.

Su Pollard Photo: Robert Workman

After an apprenticeship at the Arts Theatre in her home town of Nottingham, Su Pollard made her television debut on Opportunity Knocks, coming second to a singing Jack Russell dog. Undeterred, she went on to become one of the nation's favourite stars, largely through the role of chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw in Hi-de-Hi! Su’s stage credits are endless; pantomime, musicals or drama – Su has performed in them all, in a varied career which will next see her star as Maiden Marion in the national tour of Ha Ha Hood! and the Prince of Leaves.

Matt Lapkinskas Photo: Robert Workman

Matt Lapinskas is best known for playing Anthony Moon in Eastenders and was runner up in the eighth series of Dancing on Ice, skating his way to the 2013 finals. Ahead of pantomime season in Sunderland, Matt is set to embark on a national tour of “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” playing the role of Pharaoh from July to November 2014.  Matt has appeared in the film “I Want Candy” for Buena Vista International. Theatre whilst training at Italia Conti includes: “Assasins”, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Our Country’s Good”, “Days of Significance” and “Under Milkwood”.

Andrew Agnew

Photo: Robert Workman

Best known for playing the role of PC Plum in the BAFTA award-winning Cbeebies programme Balamory, Andrew’s television career began on BBC2 show Fran's People, where he was the character of Colin the Chef. He then got his big break, as the crime busting and nature loving, PC Plum in CBeebies' Balamory, and has starred in two UK Arena Tours of the popular programme. Andrew also has vast pantomime experience having performed all the popular characters including Wishee Washee in Aladdin (Floral Pavilion, New Brighton) Smee in Peter Pan and Buttons in Cinderella ( both at Churchill Theatre, Bromley).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a timeless tale and a delightful chance for all the family to enjoy another magical pantomime full of excitement at Sunderland Empire. Audiences can expect exquisite costumes, enchanting sets, music, dance, fun, laughter and of course poisoned apples, a Magic Mirror and the most fabulous Seven Dwarfs you've ever seen!

Are you looking to add some extra luxury to your visit? If so why not book into the all new 32 seater Ambassador Lounge.  A range of bespoke packages are available to further enhance the theatre experience giving customers the opportunity to make their visit even more memorable. 

Entry to the new Ambassador Lounge is available when purchasing Red and Purple Label packages. The Red Label package (£15) includes entry to the Ambassador Lounge, complimentary cloakroom, glass of Prosecco and savoury nibbles. The Purple Label package (£45) includes entry to the Ambassador Lounge, complimentary cloakroom, half bottle of chilled premium champagne, a delicious box of chocolates, savoury nibbles and a programme or theatre gift. A range of other packages are available with exclusive discounts for groups.

PLEASE NOTE MAXIMUM CAPACITY FOR THE AMBASSADOR LOUNGE IS LIMITED TO 32 PEOPLE WITH SEATING.

Tickets:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the Sunderland Empire from
Friday 12 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015.

Tickets priced £10 - £29.50* are on sale now from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland,
the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

*Booking/transaction fees apply to telephone and online sales.

Groups 10+ 0844 8713042 and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

Group Tickets: 10+ £16*pp, Groups 20+ £15*pp and Groups 50*+ £13pp.

Booking Information:

Box Office: 0844 871 3022*

Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042

Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

*Booking fee applies

*Discounts apply to prices A-C and are available at certain shows on the performance schedule. All discounts subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.