Jake Quickenden to star in Beauty and The Beast panto WALTHAM SWEET FIRM TO
SPONSOR SHOW AT LINCOLN
TV reality show star Jake Quickenden will be sprinkling some of his magic on stage and aiming for sweet success in the world of theatre.
The former X Factor star and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant will be playing the baddie Flash Hugo, a self-loving and egotistical character who will stop at nothing to try and win the hand of Belle in panto Beauty And The Beast at Lincoln.
It is just a horse ride from his native Scunthorpe, where he grew up and was educated at Melior Community Academy where his showmanship began.
Following successive lockdowns pantomimes are back on stage to provide family entertainment.
But due to restrictions there will be no more sweets thrown into the audience and members of the audience can not go up on stage receive gifts.
Instead, Waltham firm McMillers Sweets, which is sponsoring the show, will be providing lucky winners with their own brand of chocolate bars.
Jake said: “When we get that crowd in, when we start putting the shows on, and there’s going to be laughter and shouting, it’s just going to be great.... Christmas is all about panto, and having fun, bringing the kids and just letting your hair down. I can’t wait to get going.”
He added: “It has been a tough couple of years. There have been no shows and nobody has been able to surround themselves with the ones they love.
“So hopefully this year we can get this theatre packed out and have a nice time.”
Jake said: “Getting ready to put a show on and make people happy over Christmas is very much needed.
“It’s been tough but we’re coming to the end of it now, I’m sick of Covid-19, I just want to get back to work and having fun and enjoy Christmas.”
The two-hour show starts on December 7 and runs until January 9, with 63 shows. Waltham sweet shop owner, Anna Pedder, no stranger to theatre herself, told the Grimsby Telegraph she was delighted to sponsor the pantomime. She is running a competition in the shop next to Waltham Windmill.
“We will be giving away family theatre tickets for the New Theatre Royal pantomime - Beauty And The Beast. All that people need to do is come into the shop and answer a simple question about a song from the show,” she said.
Proceeds from the competition will go to Diabetes UK. Her shop has the biggest selection of sugar-free sweetsin town.
Anna added: “Any profits made from the competition entries will go to Diabetes UK as we have spent this year supporting them with staff members participating in various challenges, including the Million Step Challenge this summer.”
Visitors to McMillers Sweet Emporium will be invited to pay a £1 to answer a question with family tickets as a prize.
New Theatre Royal sales manager, Lee Newton said the city theatre, like all other theatres, relies upon a popular panto season to help with the viability of the theatre.
Zoe Hanna May, who appeared on ITV’s ‘The Voice’ in 2017, will play the role of Belle.
Other cast members include Christian Lee, Chris Hayes, and Paul Aitchison.
You can book tickets to see Jake and the cast by calling the Box Office on 01522 519999 or online at www. newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk