It's Panto Time - Lighthouse, Poole

Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts officially launched its magical family pantomime Cinderella at a fun-filled event on Poole Quay this week. Members of cast and local children chosen to appear in the production were joined by co-producer, writer and director Peter Duncan (of Blue Peter and Duncan Dares fame) – as well as two adorable panto ponies.

 The cast of Cinderella, which runs at Lighthouse from 8 December – 6 January, includes Ethan Lawrence (Bad Education) as Buttons, Richard Gibson (Herr Flick in ‘Allo ‘Allo) as Baron Hardup, Lucy Kay (Britan’s Got Talent) as the Fairy Godmother, Lucy-Jane Quinlan as Cinderella and Jay Worthy and Miles Western as the Ugly Sisters.

Cinderella marks the beginning of a new three-year producing partnership between Lighthouse and Duncan Reeves Productions, and follows their success with last year’s panto, Aladdin.

Peter Duncan, who returns to Lighthouse as Sam Phillips, the father of Rock’n’Roll in the smash-hit musical Million Dollar Quartet from 14-18 November, has a background firmly rooted in the traditions of pantomime. His parents, comedian Alan Gale and soprano Patricia Kaye were also panto producers and his childhood was spent surrounded by the paraphernalia of Pantoland. Peter was instrumental in bringing pantomime back to The Hackney Empire after a gap of thirty years and it was after working with Darren Reeves on pantomimes at the Oxford Playhouse that the pair decided it was time to produce together.

No stranger to the Poole area, Peter was the UK’s Chief Scout from 2004 to 2009, during the time when scouts in over two hundred countries celebrated their centenary in a live broadcast from Brownsea Island.

“I’m really looking forward to creating another good pantomime at Lighthouse. There will be much laughter and spectacle!” Peter reveals.

Peter’s producing partner Darren Reeves is a musical director and West End performer. As well as playing Benny in Björn Again and the lead role of Pianoman in Billy Joel’s hit musical Movin’ Out, he is now a member of Roger Taylor’s Queen Extravaganza, recently touring the UK and Australia.

“Lighthouse is delighted to be renewing its producing partnership with Duncan Reeves Productions,” announced Elspeth McBain, Chief Executive of Lighthouse. “Aladdin proved to be tremendously popular with our audiences last Christmas and we’re looking forward to creating an even more magical and fun-filled panto with Cinderella.”

Cinderella enjoys a four-week run at Lighthouse from Friday 8 December 2017 to Saturday 6 January 2018. Tickets are on sale now from the Lighthouse ticket office, by phone on 01202 280000 or online at www.lighthousepoole.co.uk