Playhouse latest to cancel its annual pantomime

THE popular annual pantomime at The Playhouse in Whitley Bay is the latest festive show to fall victim to the pandemic.

Following in the footsteps of theatres big and small, the venue announced the cancellation of its traditional panto on Monday.

In a statement it thanked supporters and said: “We are sad to announce that this year’s highly anticipated Christmas panto has now been postponed.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves had been due to run at the theatre from December 5 until January 4, 2021.

Gary Telfer, the show’s producer and managing director at Blue Genie Entertainment, said that several possible alternative options had been considered over recent months before the decision was reached “with huge sadness” due to ongoing restrictions and uncertainty about the months ahead.

“This would have been my 12th consecutive season at The Playhouse and I will greatly miss being in Whitley Bay at Christmas,” he said. “I assure everyone we will be back next year, with the biggest and best pantomime yet.”

Phil Smith, director of The Playhouse Whitley Bay, said the ongoing uncertainties for the theatre industry made the show impossible.

“The decision to postpone and reschedule to December 2021 is not one we have taken lightly,” he said.

All bookings made for this year will be transferred to equivalent times and dates in 2021. Customers will be contacted direct about new tickets but anyone wanting a refund can request it from the point of purchase.