Easter pantos and puppetry on offer for school holidays fun
BARBARA HODGSON has the lowdown on Easter pantos you can see around the region
SHOWING that pantomimes are not just for Christmas, the spring theatre season will be offering up a whole load of entertainment for families this Easter.
In good news for those who love all that traditional booing and hissing and immersive fun, Easter pantos have taken off in recent years at theatres across the North East and this year will see a variety of shows being staged throughout the school holidays.
They include Little Red Riding Hood at The Customs House in South Shields and Beauty and the Beast at Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle.
Here is a round-up of some of the pantomimes available to book.
We’ve also included some extra ideas, just in case pantos are not your thing.
What’s more, Newcastle Puppetry Festival will take place this Easter with more than 100 events and attractions over the school break.
So it’s panto time again and this time the traditional fairytale about the girl and the wolf will get the treatment at the South Shields theatre over the Easter weekend.
Shows are at 1pm and 5pm on Easter Sunday, March 31 then at 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday, April 1, with more dates between Tuesday and Saturday to follow.
Written by the theatre’s regular panto team of Ray Spencer and
Graeme Thompson, the tale promises a trademark fun Cooksonville journey this time through the classic fairy story of Little Red Riding Hood.
Dance star Louie Spence, who played the Fairy Godfather in the theatre’s Christmas panto Cinderella, will be back for a Sherwood Forest-based Easter adventure. This time he’ll be playing the Sheriff of Nottingham alongside Britain’s Got Talent stars George Sampson as Robin Hood; Ashleigh and Sully as Maid Marian and Sully plus Jamie and Chuck as Little John and Friary Chuck
Performances will be at 3.30pm and 7pm on April 1 and 2pm and 5.30pm on April 2.
Cinderella – Trinity Square
Taking place outdoors in the heart of Gateshead town centre, this free panto promises al fresco fun on Good Friday, March 29. The show will run from 11am until 2pm and the stars of the show also will be available to have photographs taken with young ones.
The Easter Bunny will be there too and other attractions will include face-painting, arts and crafts and there will be a Tiny Lives stall, raising money for the special care baby unit at the RVI in Newcastle.
Beauty and The Beast – Tyne Theatre & Opera House
The Newcastle is boasting a starry
line-up for the March 30-31 run of this panto by Enchanted Entertainment.
Leading the cast will be Lee Latchford-Evans from Steps alongside Barney Harwood from CBBC and Blue Peter, Steve Royle of Britain’s Got Talent and Carma Hylton from The Dumping Ground.
Promising plenty of jokes, slapstick and audience participation, it will see Belle longing for romance and adventure as a bad-mannered Prince is transformed into a beast to teach him a lesson. Performances will be at 3pm and 7pm on Saturday and 1pm and 5pm on Sunday.
Hansel & Gretel – Whitley Bay
A panto twist – promising lots of magic – on the classic fairytale will come courtesy of event company Infusion North East which will be hosting a performance at Blue Flames sports club in Whitley Bay on Good Friday, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, then again at Seaton Delaval Community Centre from 1pm to 3pm on April 4.
Easter Family Disco – Newcastle
The Royal Station Hotel in Neville Street in the city will be hosting this event from noon to 3pm on March 30.
Alongside the disco will be a finger buffet and games, plus a visit from the Easter Bunny.
The Little Prince – Queen’s Hall Arts
For a change from panto, how about an Easter holiday trip to see this show based on the popular tale of the boy who fell to earth and teaches his friend, the aviator, about love, life and happiness?
Running at the Hexham venue at 2pm on April 4 and 11am on April 5, the show will bring the story alive through ‘mesmerising puppetry and beautiful songs’.
Tortoise & the Hare – Durham
Northern Ballet will be at Gala Theatre in Durham on April 4 with this dance version of the tale of the race between the boastful hare and thoughtful tortoise.
A mix of live ballet and music – without worlds – the show is set to appeal to children aged two-plus.
There’s a relaxed performance at 4pm in between shows at 2pm and 6pm.
Awful Auntie – Sunderland
A new production of David Walliams’ adventure about ‘a small ghost, a huge owl and a very awful auntie’ will have an April 4 to April 7 run at Sunderland Empire during the Easter holidays.
Performances will be at 2.30pm and 6.30pm from the Thursday to Saturday followed by an 11am show on the Sunday.