Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury pantomime ticket sales set to break record

Theatre bosses say ticket sales for this year's Shrewsbury pantomime are through the roof – oh, yes they are!

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Theatre Severn chiefs say they expect to break box office records this Christmas.

More than 35,000 tickets have now been sold for the production of Cinderella, which opens on Wednesday.

Ticket sales are up 12 per cent on this time last year, with thousands more being sold every week.

Last year's pantomime was almost a complete sell-out and was seen by more than 38,000 people.

The show, written by Telford-born Paul Hendy, will run for 66 performances until January 8. There will be some show-stopping special effects and surprises.

It is expected that ticket sales will beat those of last year's production of Dick Whittington and extra shows have been put on to deal with the demand.

There will be two performances each day apart from Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Featuring the ever-popular Brad Fitt as Buttons, along with BBC Radio Shropshire's Eric Smith, who returns for the 14th year in a row and who will be playing Baron Hard-Up, the pantomime promises to be one to remember.

It will be the first time Brad, who directs the show and has appeared in six previous Theatre Severn pantomimes, has taken on a male role as he usually plays the dame.

The ugly sisters will be played by Ian Smith and Matt Daines, Phil Butler will perform as Dandini, Joanne Heywood as Fairy Godmother, Victoria McCabe in the title role, and Ryan Bennett as Prince Charming.

Theatre Severn marketing manager Craig Reeves said: "It is fantastic.

"People are buying tickets earlier and earlier and we have sold 86 per cent of tickets now but there are still tickets available.

"It is on course to break box office records and as a show it is possibly the biggest pantomime we have had at Theatre Severn with some show-stopping special effects and a few surprises for the audience.

"We are selling a couple of thousand every week so they won't be around for long and I would urge people to book quickly."

As the first show is quickly approaching, rehearsals are in full swing.

Mr Reeves added: "The anticipation is really building.

"The full cast arrived on Friday last week and they are putting the finishing touches to rehearsals this week and into next week to pull the show together."

Mr Fitt said: "It is different inasmuch as I am not wearing high heels and make-up but I think Buttons in Cinderella is very much that driving force.

"In other pantomimes the dame is the engine which pushes the show along but Buttons is that character in Cinderella. Besides the ugly sisters are the dames in Cinderella and I am far too pretty to be an ugly sister – it has got to be believable. It is always exciting, I love coming here. I live in Norfolk and I have spent every Christmas here for the last six years. The nice thing about being in a show where you are based somewhere is you can really get a rapport with the audience and build up a shorthand for what they like and what they expect. It is really nice because you hit the ground running from the very first show."

For more details and to book tickets call the box office on 0743 281281 or go to www.theatresevern.co.uk

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