From the moment Berwick Kaler announced he will be returning to York Theatre Royal next Christmas for his 37th writing and starring role in Dick Whittington (and his Meerkat) theatre-goers have been desperate to get their hands on tickets.
Avid panto fans often queue through the night to secure their favourite seats, with queues winding round the corner of St Leonards Place and onto Duncombe Place. The York Theatre Royal Box Office will open an hour early on Monday 2 March, where staff will serve tea and coffee to the loyal fans in the queue. Tickets will be available online at approximately 6.00pm the same day, with phone booking opening on Tuesday 3 March at 9.00am.
The much-loved Dame Berwick Kaler said of the new title
Old Mother Goose has been a phenomenal success and will be a hard act to follow, but Dick Whittington and his Meerkat has all the ingredients to turn it into another unique Theatre Royal blockbuster. My heartfelt thanks go out to our audiences who bring love and a sense of humour with them to make every show a joyous occasion for all concerned.
The pantomime will be the first production to take place after the theatre’s £4.1 million re-development. Audiences won’t miss a bit of the crazy panto action from the brand new Stalls seating, with excellent views from all rows. There will be wider, roomier seats in the Dress Circle, with much better access throughout the whole building. The panto audience will be able to enjoy interval drinks and pre-theatre food in a newly renovated café bar and when Berwick’s caused a
little too much laughing sparkling new loos will be a pleasure to visit, with more facilities and shorter queues.
We close our doors on Tuesday 17 March but until then our Box Office and café will be open as normal so we wanted everyone to know they can still buy tickets in person just like they always have – though we do hope this exciting new title will bring some new faces too. Who knows? You might even spot Berwick, or the odd Meerkat while you are queueing.
Said Damian Cruden, Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal.
York Theatre Royal’s pantomime, Dick Whittington (and his Meerkat) will run from Thursday 10 December 2015 – Saturday 30 January 2016. Tickets are priced from £32.50 – £12 (£1 transaction fee per booking). Visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or call the theatre Box Office on 01904 623568 for more information.