Page 33 - Phonebox Magazine December 2014

What’s on in the entertainment world this Christmas Mischa Allen
and Alex Giannini will be playing the baddie of pantoland, Captain Hook.
Michael Harrison, executive producer of Peter Pan, said: “We are thrilled that Joe Pasquale, who has smashed pantomime box office records wherever he has performed, will be leading the cast of Royal & Derngate’s pantomime.
“It will be without a doubt one of the most impressive pantomimes ever staged in Northampton.”
Tickets: £9 to £25 on (01604) 624811 or go to royalandderngate.co.uk.
The Bedford Pantomine Company rehearsing for Sleeping Beauty
The Little Red Hen
Festive puppets and sing-a-longs
Animal puppets, sing-a-long songs and comedy routines are all part of The Little Red Hen, a new adaptation of the nursery school favourite.
The show, at The Stables, Milton Keynes, from December 16-21, is an early learning festive classic aimed at children from 3-7 years old (and their parents of course).
In the tale the lazy farmyard animals need to lend a hand, but the red hen decides to do the work himself.
Tickets: £10 to £12 on (01908) 280800 or go to stables.org.
Mythical adventures
Audiences will be transported to the mythical kingdom of Camelot this Christmas in Northampton.
The production, co-produced with the Royal & Derngate and the Nuffield, will follow a magical new take on the legend of Merlin. Performed at the Royal until January 4, it follows three childhood friends on the adventures of a lifetime. For Prince Arthur, turning 16 means becoming a knight, but he is torn between his duty to his country and his friends.
Tickets: £9.50 to £20 on (01604) 624811 or go to royalandderngate.co.uk.
Juggling home life and taking centre stage
Christmas is a busy time for everyone, bursting with dinners to organise, parties to throw and presents to wrap. And
even more so for members of the Bedford Pantomime Company, who are putting on the town’s annual festive show, Sleeping Beauty, from December 28 until January 3 at the Corn Exchange.
Jon West, the assistant producer of the local company’s production, says: “Nobody gets paid, we all do it because we love it. I think we must be mad because it ties up a lot of our Christmas.
“We get Christmas day off and Boxing Day if we are lucky, although we normally spend it ringing people and sending emails!”
Jon, who lives in Bedford, played Buttons in the award-winning company’s very first pantomime nine years ago, but soon moved over to the producing side as it progressed.
Speaking in November he’s already excited about what the cast has to offer.
“It’s a traditional family pantomime, and I could just sit and listen to the singing and dancing.
“One different thing we do is invite all the children up on stage at the end, if they want to, to sing along with the cast. It’s great opportunity for them and for the parents to get some photographs, and they get some sweets at the end of the two.”
Half of the money raised from ticket sales will go to next year’s production, as well as the local Faces Charity, which offers practical and emotional support for families under stress.
Tickets: £10 to £15 (£40 for a family) on (01234) 718112 or go to bedfordpanto.com.
December listings
Philharmonia at the Movies, Bedford Corn Exchange, 2nd Holly at Christmas, The Stables, 2nd
Des O’Connor, The Stables, 3rd
A Kind of Queen, The Stables, 5th
The South, Roadmender, 5th
Christmas Party Show, The Stables, 6th
MK City Orchestra, St Peter and St Paul Newport Pagnell, 6th Marcus Brigstocke, The Stables, 6th
Artur Pizarro, The Stables, 6th
The Key To It All, Bedford Theatre, 8-9th
Carols and Capers, The Stables, 9th
Cleo’s Christmas Show, The Stables, 11-13th
The Glen Miller Orchestra, Bedford Corn Exchange, 15th Candelit Christmas Concert, The Stables, 16th
Christmas No.1 Singalong, The Stables, 20th
A Christmas Carol, The Stables, 22nd
Festive Bedford Comedy Club, Bedford Corn Exchange, 30th
Phonebox Magazine 33
Merlin will be performed at the Northampton Royal and Derngate