Beauty and the Beast to enchant audiences in King's Lynn
The traditional fun-filled family pantomime Beauty and the Beast will be enchanting audiences from December 8-31.
Showing at Alive Corn Exchange, Lynn in association with Jordan Productions, the production will present the Christmas panto and all the trimmings that audiences should expect.
Written by Chris Jordan, directed by Ian Marr who also plays the Dame, musical direction by Michael Cullen and choreographed by Adam Scown, a lively show is guaranteed.
The glittering cast includes Alex Scott-Fairley as Prince Gallant, Maisie Melia-Redgrave as Beauty, Scott Cripps as Potty Pierre and TV and West End star Steven Pinder as Jean-Jacques and Alex Bowen as Fairy Formidable.
With some of the cast and crew gathering to meet for the first time they will soon be preparing for rehearsals starting in November when they will have seen and learnt the script.
The timetable for the panto is intense with two shows a day and one day off a week but all the cast love doing panto and come back to it annually. Last year's break affected them differently in the theatre industry but they are all in agreement that they are looking forward to performing to audiences in Lynn.
Steven Pinder is best known for playing the role of Max Farnham in Brookside and will be returning to Lynn after having played Ebenezer in Aladdin. Returning to panto after last year was cancelled in many theatres he said: "With Christmas cancelled last year we need to get started so audiences have confidence to see the shows. It's been tough for everyone, the pandemic was hard.
"This is my fifth pantomime in King's Lynn and it is a bit like a family. It is good to come back to theatre being communicative, with audience participation. The jokes are like old friends. British pantomime is interactive and unique, a phenomenon.
"This is a real professional show and upholds the traditions, it's what people like."
Ian Marr not only directs but plays Dame Dotty. He said: "This is my 11th year as Dame and when the pandemic hit and theatres closed down we though it would be all right by last Christmas but it wasn't.
"People are dying to get back to the theatres, as everything is safe and procedures are followed."
Back by popular demand is Scott Cripps who lives in West Norfolk. He said: "Theatre is coming back, it's just good fun. My job is so easy when it is the school shows and it is just children, they go crazy.
"My advice to young people is to be creative in some way, draw or dance, but be creative thinkers."
Maisie Melia-Redgrave, Beauty and Alex Bowen, Fairy Formidable, will be living in Lynn for the duration of the run and are originally from Manchester and Wakefield. Maisie will be celebrating her 25th birthday in December. She said: "King's Lynn is really cute and I hope to go for a little winter walk on the cost and have a little explore."
Alex has an extensive background in dance and has been to Lynn previously to watch friends in Aladdin at the Corn Exchange.
She said: "If I had not been able to teach on Zoom during the pandemic it would have been really tough. I am looking forward to be working regularly again and panto is so fun.
"I am the good fairy and it is a special experience with an interactive audience. My family have already booked tickets which is lovely."
Tickets are selling, oh yes they are, and can be booked here. Box Office : 01553 764864
