Stage stars are celebrating a fairy tale ending after tens of thousands of theatregoers made Cinderella Gala’s most popular show ever.
Almost 29,000 people flocked to Durham to see the cast, including writer-directors Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley, bring the rags-to-riches tale to life.
And looking to prove their success is not just a hill of magic beans the pair are set to return in 11 months’ time with a “giant” production for Christmas 2016.
Robin Byers, Durham Country Council’s service manager for place and experience, said: “We’ve had a ball showcasing Cinderella at Gala over the past six weeks and the response to this year’s show has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s therefore great to have Neil and Paul on board for next year. What they did with Cinderella has really struck a chord with our audiences and we are working together to make sure Jack and the Beanstalk is another show to remember.
When the curtain came down on Sunday 3 January, after close to sixty performances in six weeks, more than 28,900 people had visited Gala for the critically acclaimed seasonal show – making it not just the most successful panto in Gala’s fourteen year history, but its most successful show.
But although one pantomime has come to an end, Gala is already preparing for Jack and the Beanstalk, which will run from Thursday 24 November 2016 to Saturday 7 January 2017.
As well as singing harps, golden eggs and fee-fi-fo-fums, Neil and Paul will return to star, write and direct the giant-sized production, the theatre’s biggest pantomime yet, with 69 performances across its six-week run.
More than 3,000 people have already booked to see the show, and audiences are encouraged to book early as they can snap up a bargain.
A “golden goose” ticket offer is available with families saving £5 on standard tickets for selected performances when they quote “EARLYBIRD,” either in person at the venue or over the phone.
The offer is only valid on tickets paid for before Sunday 31 January 2016 and is not available on tickets already purchased or in conjunction with other offers.
As part of efforts to make next Christmas’ performances more accessible, Gala will also be hosting a British Sign Language performance on Thursday 15 December 2016 at 7.00pm and, for the first time, will introduce a “relaxed” performance, welcoming children with special needs including autistic spectrum conditions or learning disabilities, on Wednesday 4 January 2017 at 6.00pm.
To book your tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk, visit the box office, call 03000 266 600 or book online at www.galadurham.co.uk