York Theatre Royal is pleased to announce the full cast line-up for this extraordinary year’s pantomime, Dick Whittington (and his meerkat). Writer, director and UK’s longest-serving dame Berwick Kaler will be re-joined in his 37th outing by his dysfunctional panto family; the hilarious Martin Barrass, the delightful Suzy Cooper and the villainous David Leonard.
Also taking to the stage are the brilliant Brummie AJ Powell, Pocklington’s own Harry Hughes and Vincent Gray, who was last seen treading the boards at York Theatre Royal in 2012’s Robin Hood and his Merry Mam! Danielle Mullan, Lauren Newton, Jake Lindsay, Charleigh Webb and Jack Lansbury complete the cast.
This year’s pantomime will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience as it moves home for one year only to The Signal Box Theatre at the National Railway Museum. The 1,000 seat purpose-built auditorium has been York Theatre Royal’s temporary home during its £4.1million redevelopment and played host to sell-out performances of The Railway Children this summer. The audience is seated at either side of a platform (known as ‘traverse’) and with only 10 rows of seats the fans will be closer to the action than ever before.
Berwick Kaler said of this exciting new challenge:
Artistic Director Damian Cruden has gone to great lengths to try and get rid of me but his latest effort is quite ingenious. However the laugh is on him because I have found a substitute theatre just a couple of hundred yards away from my beloved Theatre Royal – the one thousand seat Signal Box Theatre at the National Railway Museum. So while Cruden is looking for his ancestors below ground, me and ‘me babbies and bairns’ will be enjoying Dick Whittington (and his meerkat) which promises to be a hilarious and unique experience.
Designer Mark Walters is on board to design the set and costumes for this one-off production, with Richard G Jones returning to design the lighting. Music will be directed by Elliot Styche and the whole affair will be choreographed by Grace Harrington. Providing directorial support to Berwick Kaler is York Theatre Royal’s Artistic Director Damian Cruden.
Tickets are on sale now for Dick Whittington (and his meerkat) priced at £12 to £32.50 (£1 transaction fee per booking) from York Theatre Royal Box Office on 01904 623568, in person or online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.