Stars have drive to deliver Pan-tomime
PANTO season is cancelled this Christmas, then? Oh no it isn’t... in fact it’ll be bumper to bumper. The magical tale of Peter Pan, Wendy and Captain Hook is the centrepiece of Ireland’s first ever drive- i n panto at Malahide Castle in Dublin. Producers Alan Hughes and husband Karl Broderick have announced they will still be able to bring panto magic to fans this Christmas, despite initial fears that the pandemic could put the kibosh on the show. Peter Pan has been made possible by a serious sprinkling of financial fairy dust of € 236,500 f rom the Department of Arts and Culture’s Live Performance Support Scheme. The show will follow Covid19 protocols and be presented in line with all Government guidelines. Broderick s aid: ‘ We couldn’t have asked for a more fairytale setting to soar to new heights with Peter Pan and this format had so many positives when it came to special effects. ‘Without the funding, there wouldn’t be, and couldn’t be, the panto event that we are going to give to people and we’re thankful for it.’ Hughes (as Sammy Sausages) and Rob Murphy (Buffy) will lead the cast on an enchanting adventure to Neverland.
Dancing With The Stars winner Jake Carter plays the boy who never grows up, Peter Pan, while Fair City’s Johnny Ward will be the evil pirate Captain Hook.
Tinker Bell will be played by Michele McGrath, who gets a little green-eyed at Peter having a new friend, Wendy.
Paul Ryder returns to pantoland as Sparkle, Hook’s rather reluctant right-hand man, and Keila Ana Whelan stars as a young Wendy, minding her little brothers John and Michael.
The script has been penned once again by Broderick, for the 23rd time in a row.
Tickets are priced at €50 per car and go on sale from this Friday, November 27 at 10am from panto.ie.