Theatre pledges panto will return this Christmas
Theatre changes its 2020 panto
THE KINGS Theatre has announced that it is having to postpone its planned Peter Pan pantomime to 2021 — but a show will go this winter.
Following the enforced closure of theatres due to the lockdown, the advertised show has been pushed back 12 months.
Peter Pan will now run from Saturday, November 27 until Friday, December 31, 2021, and Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis will still star in the production.
However, that doesn’t mean that Portsmouth will be left without a pantomime for this year.
The Kings Theatre will be putting on a version of Dick Whittington starring Pompey’s favourite dame, Jack Edwards alongside a host of local favourites.
The Pompey Panto will run from Saturday, November 28 until Thursday, December 31.
Jack Edwards said: ‘Peter Pan will be back with the irrepressible John Challis next year bigger and better and we can’t wait!
‘As someone who is born and bred here, loves the Kings so much, and has the pleasure of playing Pantomime Dame every year, it is a huge privilege that we can bring you Dick Whittington as our 2020 ‘Pompey Panto’.
‘I can’t wait to bring all the elements that we know and love including the brilliant 12 days of Christmas, (don’t forget your toilet rolls).
‘Once again thank you for allowing us to entertain you and for being such a brilliant and loyal audience. We will bring you something very special this year and something to look forward too?’
Kings Theatre CEO, Paul Woolf added: ‘Team Kings will not be defeated! Let other venues cancel panto but not us. We are at the heart of the Pompey community and after all the heartache of lockdown we want to give you the opportunity to have some fun
‘And we are going to deliver that in buckets full!
‘We are putting on the Pompey Panto. All tickets are £20 and there are six designated schools performances with tickets for School and Education Groups at just £10.25 each.
‘We’re also putting on a free performance for NHS and key workers on Wednesday 2 December with tickets available by ballot. We’ll be releasing details of how to apply for tickets in July.
‘We are limiting the audience numbers to 400 per show to comply with social distancing and if the government relax off the rules we will extend the capacity. ‘So come on Pompey buy a ticket, and please show your support for our beautiful theatre, and join us for what will be a fantastic show as well as enjoying our new stalls flooring – yes we did listen.
‘Oh and if for any reason we are not allowed by the government to put on the show we guarantee a refund of the ticket price.’
Tickets for Dick Whittington go on sale at midday today.
Before opening the Kings will be undertaking a series of measures to ensure the safety and comfort of our customers.
The theatre is undertaking a deep clean of the venue and has an increased daily cleaning regime, while all staff are being made aware of their responsibilities and the hygiene routines to be followed.
They will all be supplied with PPE as needed and free face masks will be available for audience members on request.
Hand sanitisers will be also be provided.
Team Kings will not be defeated! Let other venues cancel panto but not us.
Paul Woolf
That indomitable Pompey spirit has been much in evidence throughout the coronavirus lockdown, and shows no signs of waning as we look forward to the recovery. In happier times theatres up and down the land right now would be calling soap stars, former Gladiators and popchart botherers to see if they were available for panto.
Sadly all bets are now off as to when social distancing might be eased, and, for now, the usual star-studded Christmas shows are off the cards.
It means many towns and cities will be without their traditional festive shows as theatres remain dark while Christmas lights twinkle elsewhere.
Southsea’s Kings Theatre, however, is made of sterner stuff.
It has decided the show must go on, and plans to pull a Pompey Panto out of the ether for staging to suitably sociallydistanced, number-limited audiences.
It will be putting on a version of Dick Whittington starring Pompey’s favourite dame, Jack Edwards, alongside a host of local favourites.
Upbeat Kings Theatre CEO, Paul Woolf, said ‘Team Kings will not be defeated! Let other venues cancel panto but not us. We are at the heart of the Pompey community and after all the heartache of lockdown we want to give you the opportunity to have some fun.
‘And we are going to deliver that in buckets full!
We also report today how local musicians are looking beyond the lockdown with a Save Our Scene campaign, and a fundraising recording.
Alongside all the other fantastic efforts and acts of kindness we have reported throughout this crisis, we are in no doubt that when this is all over, Portsmouth will bounce back, stronger, brasher and brighter than ever as lusty choruses of Play Up Pompey ring out once more from Fratton Park.