Slapstick season is a real record-breaker
A season of slapstick and mayhem have proved a real money-spinner for Shropshire's two biggest theatres, which have both reported record-breaking pantomime crowds.
Audiences have flocked to Theatre Severn, in Shrewsbury, and Oakengates Theatre, in Telford, for a dose of festive madness.
Shrewsbury's pantomime has sold a record 35,000 tickets with a week of performances still to go. This year's production of Sleeping Beauty has broken the record set by the previous two pantomimes, Aladdin and Jack and the Beanstalk.
Brad Fitt, director of the pantomime and also the show's dame, said he was delighted with how the show had gone down with people in Shropshire.
"We are thrilled that we have outsold previous years and are looking forward to seeing even more people over the next few days," he said.
"The show always evolves, extra bits get added, jokes can take on a life of their own and it's never the same show twice and the final week is always something special."
And in Telford, the production of Aladdin at Oakengates Theatre @ The Place closed on Sunday after also breaking box office records.
Councillor Liz Clare, Telford & Wrekin's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "Oakengates Theatre @ The Place continues to draw crowds from across the region and we are committed to investing in the facility to ensure that the theatre continues to be a part of the wider offer for people who live, work and visit Telford. Next Christmas's pantomime run at Telford will be extended to make sure that everyone who wants to, has a chance to see it."
Sleeping Beauty is running at Theatre Severn until Sunday. Tickets are still available and start from £10.
For more information visit www.theatresevern.co.uk or call (01743) 281281.
Next year's pantomime at Oakengates is Beauty and the Beast and booking are already being taken.
It opens on Tuesday, December 9 and runs until January 5. Tickets cost from £9.50 to £16.50 from (01952) 382382 or www.theplacetelford.com
