Hospital patients across the UK will be able to watch Newcastle Theatre Royal’s panto Dick Whittington for free from their beds this Christmas as the production is screened to their Hospedia TV screens.
The cast has filmed a special performance of the pantomime, which will be screened for free to 170,000 patients across 180 NHS hospitals on 21 December.
The screenings are the brainchild of local entrepreneur and Theatre Royal Trustee, Howard Tait (chief executive of Newcastle communications agency Martin Tait Redheads) who said: “When I first got involved at the Theatre Royal I arranged trips for the children in the local hospital to come to see the panto but I soon realised that the sickest children weren’t able to come and were missing out. So I had the idea of bringing the magic of the panto to them instead and the idea just grew and grew.
“It’s wonderful to hear how much the hospital patients, both adults and children, enjoy having the panto to watch and how it brings cheer onto the wards. The screening is totally free of charge to watch and we film it in such a way that those watching get to see close up shots of the actors as well as the general stage view, so it’s a really special show.”
And cast members of this year’s panto, Dick Whittington, visited The Great North Children’s Hospital today (16 December) to meet some of their youngest and biggest fans, who will watch them perform on the 21 December. Dressed in full costume, the cast spent time with poorly children and their families, bringing gifts and signing autographs ahead of the screening on the bedside tvs.
Danny Adams, who plays Dick Whittington, said: “One of the most wonderful things about starring in the Theatre Royal panto is the audience members, they are fantastic and not just while they are in the theatre; we regularly get kids running up to us in the street for a photo or shouting our catchprases out to us. It’s such a lovely feeling knowing that they identify with us and so being able to come along and meet some of the children who are unfortunate enough to be in hospital at this time of year is really special. Seeing their faces light up when we come into the ward is a magical moment for them and us.”
The hospital screening project is a unique collaboration between the NHS, Newcastle Theatre Royal and Hospedia – the national hospital broadcast network. Ben Packman, Hospedia’s Strategic Development Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide a platform for the Theatre Royal’s pantomime screening. Our aim is to make the patient experience whilst in hospital as enjoyable as possible and we particularly welcome the opportunity to make the festive period special for all the children in hospital at this time.” The screening of the panto is free to everyone with a bedside tv and will be shown at 2pm on channel 36, with repeat screenings at 4pm and 6pm.
Chief Executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal, Philip Bernays, said: “We are extremely proud to be part of this wonderful initiative bringing the fun and festive feel-good factor of the Theatre Royal’s pantomime directly to the hospital beds of patients across the whole of the UK.
“Howard has worked so hard to expand the tradition that we started here in Newcastle, and it is marvellous to see that each year more and more patients watch this specially filmed edition of what is still the UK’s fastest selling panto.”
Dick Whittington plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Sunday 17 January 2016. Tickets are available from £12.50 (pay less online) and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (all calls are charged at 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, calls from mobiles may vary, please contact your operator for details).