Recently, we’ve been running a series of posts, under the title ‘Access To Art’, which have looked at accessibility in the world of art. This week we were a little bit unsure about whether or not we should demean our subtitle by using it for a feature on accessible pantomimes. In the end we decided to stick with it. Pantomime has never really been very cool and it’s certainly never been ‘art’ but panto season is about to begin and it’s a major part of Christmas. It’s just one of those Christmas traditions that you can’t avoid, a bit like Cliff Richard, sprouts and spending time with your racist uncle.
The stars of soaps and reality TV are out in force but in amongst them are some interesting celebs who you might not necessarily expect to do panto. Admittedly not they’re aren’t that many of them but maybe there’s a slight hint that panto has a little more credibility these days.
It’s fun to poke fun at but we do realise that loads of people out there really enjoy pantomimes and they are good, solid family fun. Plus loads of, if not most, kids love them. Nobody’s complaining when they get to go up on stage for free treats! So here’s our guide to some of the biggest names in panto and how accessible they are:
The New Wimbledon Theatre above all other pantomimes, always seems to manage to rope in some pretty major stars. Previously they’ve had Pamela Anderson, Dame Edna Everage and The Hoff himself. This year their production of Aladdin has Olivier winner Matthew Kelly as Widow Twankey, Jo Brand as The Genie of the Ring and Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Flawless, as the Peking Police Force (this definitely sounds like a new take on Aladdin; you have to wonder if they understood the source material properly).
There is accessible seating in the stalls with seats for wheelchair users to have a companion next to them. The main entrance has stairs but there is a step free entrance via Russell Road and then there is a wheelchair lift, hearing loop and adapted toilet. The theatre was used in an episode of The IT Crowd when Roy ended up accidentally becoming part of a disabled theatre group, so it would be a bit cheeky of them to not have good access in real life too.
Lee Mead will be donning his best pair of green tights to tackle the tricky role of Robin Hood at The Theatre Royal, Plymouth. The all singing, all dancing Mead will be joined by Nigel Havers as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Bobby Davro as Will Scarlet. They say to “get ready for a sheriff-busting, arrow-shooting, tights-wearing, hog-roasting extravaganza!” You’ve been warned.
There’s a ramp to get in and lifts inside. All four floors have adapted toilets. For patrons who are unable to attend performances unless accompanied; upon purchase of a ticket, an additional seat is available free of charge for the companion. There are wheelchair accessible seats in the stalls and circle. For more details, including special performances, you can go to their website which has loads of information.
Two soap opera icons combine at The Grove Theatre in Dunstable’s production of Dick Whittingon. The irrestiably likable Ryan Moloney (AKA Toadfish from Neighbours) as Idle Jack and faces off with intensely evil Leslie Grantham (Eastenders’ “Dirty” Den Watts) as Dirty Rat. The title role is being played by Ben Irish, who was cast through a Panto Factor online talent show.
All levels of the theatre are fully accessible via a lift and there are wheelchair accessible seats in both the Stalls and Circle. An infra red system operates in the auditorium and programmes are available in large print. Visit their site for more info and information on access performances.
Dick Whittington at The Theatre Royal in Stratford East might not have a star studded cast but it does, apparently, have something that quite a lot of pantos lack: genuine originality and wit. Written by Olivier-award winning duo Trish Cooke and Robert Hyman they manage to add something fun to a normally rather tired format, whilst maintaining the classic Panto tropes.
The theatre is fully accessible with six wheelchair spaces in the theatre itself, lifts to the upper level, and wheelchair-accessible toilets. The foyer is spacious and the box office is also wheelchair accessible. Guide dogs are welcome and there is an infrared assisted listening system. The have one signed, one captioned and one audio described performance of the show. Find out more here.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Birmingham Hippodrome is perhaps the campest of them all in this year’s panto season, and that’s really saying something. John Partridge, best known for playing Christian in Eastenders, is an experienced musical performer and also something of a panto veteran these days. He should be a really safe pair of jazz hands. Then Dynasty star, Stephanie Beacham, adds a touch of evil glamour as The Wicked Queen. Plus, with Gok Wan playing the Man in the Mirror the jokes just write themselves!
Wheelchair users can access the theatre via automatic doors to the right of the Hurst Street entrance. There are wheelchair positions located in most areas of the auditorium. Accessible unisex and ambulant disabled toilets are available on all levels. They are putting on audio described, captioned and BSL performances along with a relaxed performance for people with autism to enjoy. There are more details online.
The Milton Keynes Theatre are also putting on a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The biggest name and littlest actor in an impressive cast is, Hollywood star, Warwick Davis. He’s previously appeared in multiple box office hits, including Star Wars and Harry Potter as well as Ricky Gervais projects Life’s Too Short and An Idiot Abroad but it’s good to see that, rather than waiting by the phone for somebody to offer him a part in Star Wars 7, he’s keeping busy here. He’s accompanied by Jennifer Ellison (Brookside, Singin’ In the Rain, Phantom of the Opera… FHM) as the boo-able Wicked Queen and comedian Kev Orkian provides the funny.
There are six wheelchair spaces available in the Stalls. All areas of the Theatres are accessible to customers with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. There is level access from the top of Margaret Powell Square, through into the foyer. The bars and box office have lowered counters and the front doors have a push button to open them. There’s an infrared sound system and the access all seems pretty good. The only set back is that they have limited specialist performances, only offering one captioned performance and no BSL or audio described. Find out more here.
We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that The Bristol Hippodrome will be going ‘full panto’ this Christmas and you can’t get more sparkly, outrageous and ‘panto-ish’ than the show that they have lined up. They say that they’re “throwing the ball of the year as television’s dancing superstar Louie Spence will be the main attraction at their performance of Cinderella.” It looks likely that Spence’s force of personality will be the overriding feature of this one as his one man chorus line takes over proceedings.
The access is generally good again with some special performances available. The building is accessible, with adapted toilets and lifts. They provide number of wheelchair positions which are available depending on your requirements. They ask people with disabilities to contact the venue’s Groups and Access team on 0117 302 3222. So call them or check their website for more details.
This year, the New Theatre in Cardiff will be hosting a giant pantomime full of adventure and spectacle with Jack and the Beanstalk. Julian Clary stars as The Spirit of the Beans – you can tell, just from that, that this is bold pantomime, willing and ready to embrace the surreal (or possibly just to make lots of fart jokes). In all seriousness, it should be a very funny show.
The theatre’s website has loads of information about access on it. To summarise it: they have quite a few wheelchair spaces dotted around the auditorium as well as several access performances of the show. They have level access, a lift, a stair climbing wheelchair, infrared hearing system and reduced ticket prices for the less able. On top of all that they have a handy PDF Access Guide to download. Excellent work!
Dick Whittington at the Manchester Opera house, is the only panto this year in which the human cast are eclipsed by a dog. That’s right, the star of this show will be trick performing dog Pudsey and his dance partner Ashleigh – last year’s winners of Britain’s Got Talent. Amongst those being upstaged by the dancing dog is Jodie Prenger, once the winner of BBC talent finding series I’d Do Anything. The show promises all you usual panto favourites – comedy, audience participation and fun songs – along with an interesting canine twist.
Their access is OK, if not the best. They have two wheelchair spaces available, both in the circle, which are accessible from street level. Other than that, there are a quite a lot of steps to get around the building and there’s no lift. But they do have an infrared system, an accessible toilet and 2 access performances.