PANTO legends Ray Spencer and Bob Stott are leading the Christmas capers at the Customs House.
The South Shields venue reckons this year’s show, Puss In Boots, is its best yet.
It is the hilarious duo’s 35th year working together – and they still show no signs of retiring.
Bob said: “It certainly doesn’t feel like we’ve been doing this for 35 years.
“I don’t really count the years – I do it because I love it. I love getting on stage and entertaining all our friends, old and new.”
Returning to perform alongside Ray and Bob are Graham Overton (King Boris) and Peter Darrant (Osborne The Ogre).
Lucy Rafton and Afnan Iftikhar also make welcome returns to play Princess Cheryl and Much The Miller’s Son.
* Puss In Boots runs until January 8. Tickets start from £7. Call the box office on 454 1234.

GLASS slippers, laughs and romance are on the cards at Durham’s Gala Theatre.
The Durham City venue is hosting Cinderella until January 8, with a host of familiar faces and a real horse-drawn carriage.
Fence Houses actor Donald McBride will return for his third consecutive Gala panto outing, and this year appears as Sarah, one of the ugly sisters, alongside Spennymoor’s John Carter as Clara.
Joining Donald and John once again will be Seaham-born actor Neil Armstrong, who has been in pantomime every year since 1987.
Neil will play Cinderella’s step uncle, the evil Baron Gristle.
Completing the line-up of old friends will be Paul Hartley and Jane Deane as the comedy double act Buttons and Dishes.
Joining these Gala stalwarts will be some new faces.
Helen Embleton, pictured right, plays Fairy Marigold, having appeared last year as Narcissus in Sleeping Beauty at the Customs House, South Shields.
Australian Tom Caley plays the dashing Prince Charming with Sophie Michaels as his Cinderella.
* Tickets are available from 332 4041.

http://www.jarrowandhebburngazette.com

Published Date:
07 January 2010

By Fiona Thompson

Theatre bosses have already started taking ticket bookings for their next pantomime as they celebrate their most successful festive show.
The Gala, in Durham, has just finished its second in-house panto, Dick Whittington, which has broken a record as the venue’s most financially successful show of its own making.

Gala Director Simon Stallworthy said: “Two years ago, when we took the decision to bring our pantomime in-house, we had no idea how it would fare.

“I’m delighted that Dick Whittington has continued the trend that Aladdin started last year, and panto is now thriving at Gala.”

The 2010 pantomime, Cinderella, has already sold hundreds of tickets.
The Gala has confirmed that Fence Houses actor Donald McBride will return as one of the ugly sisters.

The team hopes to make more announcements soon about familiar faces who will make up the cast.

Mr Stallworthy added: “We’ve developed the relationship with our audience over the last couple of years and they know they’ll get a high quality show at affordable prices.

“We hope that Cinderella will deliver even more, and we promise magical and spectacular scenery, incredible transformation scenes and maybe even some live animals.”

Cinderella will run from Wednesday, December 1, to Saturday, January 8.
Ticket prices will remain at 2009 levels. To book, call the box office on 332 4041 or visit the website at www.galadurham.co.uk

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