St Helens to stream a special lockdown Easter panto

The show is going on at St Helens Theatre Royal this month – oh yes it is!

But rather than treading the boards in the venue’s annual Easter panto, the family entertainment is taking to the web.

Regal Entertainments Ltd will livestream the ‘lock-down panto’ Rapunzel on the theatre’s Facebook page and Instagram account daily for seven days from Easter Sunday until April 18.

The aptly-themed and uniquely filmed production will feature Olivia Sloyan as Rapunzel, writer and director James Lacey as the Witch, Lewis Devine as Daft Dave, Samantha Palin as the Queen, Warren Donnelly as the King, Andrew Geater as the Prince, Abby Middleton as Fairy Anna(logue) and Jenna Sian O’Hara as Pixel The Pixie.

For this special production, each cast member has recorded their own section of the pantomime at home and, through careful editing, the story is brought together to create an online pantomime the whole family will enjoy.

The show is choreographed by Sarah Walker.

Regal Entertainments’ producer and director, Chantelle Nolan said: “During the national lockdown we wanted to reward and entertain families for being responsible and isolating. So many of our customers were disappointed not to be able to come and see our Easter pantomime in St Helens, so we thought that, this year, we'd bring the panto to them.

“We have an incredibly talented cast who are more than up to the challenge of creating a unique new show and we’re going to put on a fantastic online show all ages can enjoy.”

This year's St Helens Easter panto - announced before the Coronavirus pandemic - was originally due to be Goldilocks and the Three Bears, starring Maureen Nolan as Baroness Von Vippemall and Rebecca d'Lacey in the title role.

The free online performance of Rapunzel is being streamed at 1.30pm from April 12-18 on Facebook (@sthelenstheatreroyal) and Instagram (TheatreRoyalStH)