Curtain down on panto! Looking back over six magical weeks...
Panto season may be at an end (oh no it isn’t…oh yes it IS!) but that’s no excuse to hang up the glass slippers and bid farewell to the oversized bloomers just yet…
With the curtain coming down on yet another spectacular Hippodrome pantomime season, we’ve pulled together a list of our top ten moments from across a staggering 6 weeks and 72 sparkling shows!
- You Shall Go To The Ball!
With party season fast approaching and the countdown to Birmingham’s biggest panto well and truly underway, our very own belle of the ball, Suzanne Shaw, enjoyed an early taste of the Cinderella treatment at an exclusive photo shoot and makeover for Style Birmingham in November. Showcasing some of the season’s hottest trends, our Suzanne proved she was ever inch the party princess!
A huge thank you to Grand Central, The Bullring and the whole team at Style for making our wishes come true!
- Christmas Time…Panto and Gluhwein!
When it comes to annual festive outings, there are some things that Brummies just can’t do without…
So what better way to welcome our cast to Birmingham than by bringing together two of the city’s favourite Christmas traditions…pantomime and the Frankfurt Christmas Markets!
Prost!
Having a ball with these guys at @brumhippodrome. It’s so great to be back here… “Cheers!”?…https://t.co/sENc3WP3tQ pic.twitter.com/xW4DcT8rWe
— Danny Mac (@dannymaconline) December 23, 2017
- Suzanne Gets Her Skates On…
With another series of Dancing On Ice skating back onto our screens just in time for the new year, we couldn’t resist taking our stunning Cinders, Suzanne Shaw, on a trip down memory lane with a little help from our friends at Ice Skate Birmingham and company bestie, Gary Watson who plays Dandini in this year’s show.
It’s safe to say Suzanne has lost none of her signature skating skill…watch out Torville and Dean, you’ve got competition in this pair…
TONIGHT @dancingonice returns! It has been 10 years since our Cinderella @SuzanneShaw won the show, so we took her to @IceSkateBham with her mate Gary Watson who plays Dandini to show off her skills! ⛸? pic.twitter.com/uXhcr76qDg
— BirminghamHippodrome (@brumhippodrome) January 7, 2018
- A Knight To Remember…
Every Cinderella needs a royal ball…so what better excuse to roll out the red carpet and serve up some signature Hippodrome sparkle than with a fairy-tale press night to end all press nights. Compete with gorgeous glass slippers, a fabulous throne and plenty of pumpkins to keep guests entertained until the clock struck midnight…(well nearly!) this year’s star-studded VIP reception featured guests from far across the kingdom of greater Birmingham…as well as some well-known names and faces including Strictly’s very own Ore Oduba!
Gonna embarrass you here buddy …just had to say #Cinderella at @brumhippodrome is THE best panto we’ve EVER seen!!! There y’are, said it now @dannymaconline ?genuinely never sweated so much from laughing so hard! Perfect Xmas day out. Cast is SO good… https://t.co/Gl0xAA4bdc pic.twitter.com/SGVGjTqJCz
— Ore Oduba (@OreOduba) December 26, 2017
They’ve done it AGAIN. Another spectacular Brummy panto at @brumhippodrome. @Beverleyknight is the ultimate diva fairy, and @TheMattSlack is on top comic form! #BrumPanto pic.twitter.com/ZWplWNmVG9
— Andy Goulding (@AndyGoulding) December 21, 2017
We’re so excited to see our leading lady @SuzanneShaw in @brumhippodrome’s Cinderella tonight! #BrumPanto ?✨ pic.twitter.com/6P92yKzDBC
— Style Birmingham (@Stylebham) December 21, 2017
It’s time for @brumhippodrome #BrumPanto #PressNight with the mother! #Christmas #BrumBlogger #Cinderella ?❄️ pic.twitter.com/2yu6pbN517
— Andrew Exeter (@AndrewExeter) December 21, 2017
The most magical pantos of them all #Cinderella ✨?The cast were unreal ?? Thank you @brumhippodrome #BrumPanto pic.twitter.com/de2i1I9jCb
— Luke Williams (@OfficialLuke) December 21, 2017
- Behind The Curtain…
There’s so much more to panto than what happens on stage! From the 800 lighting cues it takes to bring the show to life right through to the 109 costume changes which take place backstage during every show, putting on a production of this size, scale and spectacle is as much about graft as it is glamour!
To celebrate the men and women behind the magic, we commissioned some behind-the-scenes snaps of this year’s magical pantomime, which together helped capture the glamour, hard work and anticipation of life backstage during a busy show!
- Pan-demonium in the kitchen…
Take two ultra-competitive panto stars, add one Michelin-starred chef, throw in one truly fabulous fairy and mix liberally with eggs, a stopwatch and some rather dodgy panto puns…and what do you get? The fairy godmother of ALL Omelette Challenges that’s what!
Yes, it was a closely fought battle but – after an egg-hilerating fight to the finish line, it was pop princess Suzanne Shaw who reigned ‘Omelette Queen’ supreme in the Hippodrome’s very own tribute to Saturday Kitchen’s Omelette Challenge. Hosted by Michelin starred chef and proud Brummie Glynn Purnell and judged by our very own Beverley Knight, it’s safe to say the result was flippin’ egg-xtraordinary!
This pic sums up my love for the #omlettechallenge – not sure what my arms are doing though!!! Thank you @yummy_brummie for making my @brumhippodrome Panto experience even better! What a day!!! #livingthedream pic.twitter.com/8Kt3rytFZg
— Suzanne Shaw (@SuzanneShaw) January 10, 2018
- Out and About in Brum…
When they weren’t busy entertaining us on stage, our 2017-18 panto family could regularly be spotted out and about enjoying the sights and sounds of Brum. Rumours of celebrity sightings this year include a family trip to the Sealife Centre by Suzanne Shaw, Afternoon Tea at The Edgbaston with Beverley Knight, a night of five-star dining at local landmarks Purnells Restaurant and Lasan by our principal cast and an after-hours trip to Escape Live Birmingham! We don’t know where they find the energy!
- The gift that keeps on giving …
We believe that panto is for everyone which is why we were especially thrilled to welcome children with life-limiting conditions for our annual ‘Family Day’ in January. Working with partners Acorns Children’s Charity, the day featured live storytelling, musical instruments and a special sing-a-long with our fantastic cast.
And when our audience couldn’t make it to us, don’t imagine that stopped us! Our panto stars were more than happy to share the magic with the staff and patients of Birmingham Children’s Hospital with a surprise visit to Ocean Ward this week!
We’re so grateful to the @brumhippodrome and the regular supporters whose generosity has allowed the theatre to install a hoist, giving families more access to wonderful facilities! ??
Here’s a pic from a recent Acorns Family Day featuring cast members and @Beverleyknight ? pic.twitter.com/gE0uZqpVj7
— Acorns Hospice (@AcornsHospice) January 16, 2018
- Everyone’s welcome…
Nothing captures the true spirit of pantomime quite like the utterly unique atmosphere of a Relaxed Performance. And this year, there was double the excitement as the Hippodrome threw open its doors to a record-breaking 2,000 people for two consecutive Relaxed stagings on 24 Jan.
Specially adapted for audiences with Autistic spectrum disorders and other complex learning needs, the uniquely ‘relaxed’ and welcoming atmosphere created both on stage and throughout our foyer spaces meant a very great deal to visitors on the day and just as much to our company of actors! Rumour has it than our very own adoptive Brummie Matt Slack was reduced to tears during the evening curtain call whilst Handsome Prince Danny Mac and Fabulous Fairy Beverley Knight tweeted these messages of support.
I am blown away by @brumhippodrome and their efforts to make theatre accessible to absolutely everyone. A very special day. Thank you to every single one of you remarkable people who made today happen. And thanks to all who came. It was our pleasure.?
— Danny Mac (@dannymaconline) January 24, 2018
A post shared by Beverley Knight (@beverleyknight) on
Well done @brumhippodrome for allowing 2,000 disabled people to enjoy theatre today… pic.twitter.com/LD82isI7Qb
— Joanne Malin (@Joannemalin7) January 24, 2018
Half way through the relaxed performance @brumhippodrome the most rewarding heart felt day of the whole run. #humbled #tissues ???
— Matt Slack (@TheMattSlack) January 24, 2018
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