Category Archives: Pantomime

Brighton, Brighton Centre, Brighton Life, Elf, Elf The Musical, Musicals, Pantomime, theatre, Theatre

As long as you’ve got your Elf

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Nadia Abbas reports on a new production of Elf at the Brighton Centre

Every Christmas, people around the world rewatch the beloved Hollywood hit Elf. Buddy’s lovable and energetic character, the picturesque New York setting, and the sense of family and nostalgia make this film a festive favourite. This timeless tale will be brought to life on stage for Brighton residents to witness as Elf the Musical will be performed at the Brighton Centre in January. This musical promises to capture the magic of the Elf story whilst also including new and exciting features such as aerial cirque stars, an indoor snowstorm, and much more! It will be the perfect New Year treat.

Jon Conway Productions is bringing Elf the Musical to the Brighton Centre from the 5th-6th of January 2024. It will feature a star-studded cast, including West End actor Steven Serlin, who will play Buddy the Elf. ‘Birds Of A Feather’ actor Charlie Quirke will play Buddy’s New York pal, Charlotte Hall will play Buddy’s love interest Jovie, and Barry Bloxham stars as Buddy’s dad. This musical is suitable for all ages, and it will have hilarious comedy, terrific costumes, and lively original songs by Matt Sklar and Chad Beguelin. Charlie Quirke, actor, said: “Our dance routines have loads of people, they are really big, really in your face, it’s quite eye-catching. There’s a fair bit of everything in this musical.”

This musical will follow the Elf film storyline, but there will also be some thrilling interactive elements to make it a spectacular stage production. This includes arming the audience with two hundred inflatable snowballs during the famous snowball fight scene from the film that they can throw at each other and the actors. Jon Conway, Elf the Musical producer, said: “We never quite know how the snowball fight is going to go; sometimes you get kids who get really carried away, and they jump out of their seats, and they run up and throw the snowballs all over the place!” There will also be a flying sleigh with Santa inside that flies over the cast. Jon Conway, said: “Every few minutes something happens that you don’t quite expect.”  

This musical is working with the charity Laughter is the Best Medicine by raising money for underprivileged children and giving them free tickets to the show. Three hundred of these children are coming to watch the Brighton performance. Jon Conway, said: “If you can’t do good at Christmas, when can you?” Jon Conway Productions is also an ambassador for the charity KidsOut and regularly works with them.

This musical is being performed in other locations throughout December, including Bournemouth, Manchester, and Newcastle. Brighton is the last performance. Charlie Quirke said: “In that first week of January, people are still trying to hold onto that festive season and spirit. Elf is based around Christmas, but it’s also a really nice family show.”

Tickets cost between £26.50 and £55.50 and can be purchased from the Brighton Centre’s website. 

To find out more, visit  https://brightoncentre.co.uk/whats-on/2024/elf-the-musical/

Allison Ferns, Brighton, Brighton Metropole, Cinderella, Pantomime

Cinderella’s the Xmas panto (Oh no it isn’t… )

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Sorry – you have to write things like that. Nadia Abbas reports on the Christmas panto at the Metropole

The fantastical tale of Cinderella, with its shimmering glass slippers, magical fairy godmothers, and wicked stepsisters, has been a family favourite for decades. Brighton residents now have the chance to experience this classic story on stage as the Cinderella pantomime is being performed at the Hilton Brighton Metropole this December. Adults, children, and Disney fans will be able to watch Cinderella’s delightful adventure as she transforms from a mistreated maid into a beautiful princess fit for a prince.

Cinderella will be performed at the Double Tree by Hilton Brighton Metropole on the 20th-30th of December 2023, and features a stellar cast, including BBC Sussex presenter Allison Ferns, who will play Cinderella’s evil stepmother, Baroness Hardup. drag icon Miss Jason (Jason Sutton) will be playing villainous stepsister Sindy, Kane Matthews will play Prince Charming and Ellie Earl takes the lead role.

David Hill, the producer of this pantomime and the founder of Brighton-based event company E3 Events, said: “The audience can expect big song and dance numbers, lots of slapstick, lots of fun, lots of booing when the villains are on, and obviously dazzling costumes”.

This pantomime will follow the traditional story of Cinderella, but there will be some exciting, modern twists to this iconic fairy tale. This includes the addition of Dandini’s character, who is Prince Charming’s trusty sidekick, who was not in the Disney film. There will also be an adults-only performance of this pantomime on the 28th of December at 8 p.m. David Hill, said: “The brief to the cast will be to deliver the same show, but we will give them license to be a little bit more creative and rude in their language. It will be a lot of fun.”

Ellie Earl said: “We’ll rehearse pretty much full-time for about a week and a half. It doesn’t sound like much, but when it’s all day every day, it’s going to be quite intense.”

The panto also plans to support local charities with its performances, including the Focus Foundation and The Sussex Beacon. “It’s an opportunity for us to give a little back”, said David Hill. 

Ticket prices for this pantomime range from £8.50-£35 and can be purchased from Brighton Family Panto’s website.

To find out more, visit https://www.brightonfamilypanto.com/