2014 Derby Christmas panto cancelled

Beauty and the Beast Cancelled

Thu 31 Jul 2014

The panto is off but Christmas magic will go on, oh yes it will!

Derby’s pantomime is taking a break for 2014 following the closure of the Assembly Rooms, but Christmas Magic will still be twinkling in Derby throughout the festive season.

Councillor Alison Martin, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture said:

“It is of course disappointing that we have not been able to stage the pantomime this year, however I’m confident that Christmas will go on in Derby. The city’s theatres and cinemas are set to present a myriad of festive treats for all the family to enjoy and the Market Place will be once again transformed by Derby LIVE into a winter wonderland with the ever popular Derby Christmas Ice Rink and a Christmas Arts & Craft Fair.”  

Derby LIVE’s Guildhall Theatre is set to stage Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves.  This wickedly comic tale will be enjoyed by anyone who has ever been the slightest bit naughty.

QUAD will present a range of festive activities for all the family ranging from classic and contemporary festive films for all ages alongside interactive accessible creative workshops. Schools can also book in for an end of term treat, by selecting a film of their choice, which can fit with what children are learning or just be for fun.

Derby Theatre is staging two Christmas productions this year. Hansel & Gretel is the perfect play for children with an appetite for magical storytelling whilst Neil Duffield’s vibrant adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol retains all the sparkle and magic of this much-loved festive story.

Councillor Martin added:

“The Council has worked hard to investigate a number of options for staging the pantomime in the city however, unfortunately at least for this year’s event we have not been able to identify a solution which would meet our audience’s expectations and be logistically and financially viable.”

Derby LIVE will now be contacting all customers who had already booked for this year’s pantomime Beauty and the Beast before the fire led to the closure of the Assembly Rooms, to offer them a full refund and the opportunity to move their booking to Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves, at the Guildhall Theatre or to a session on the Derby Christmas Ice Rink.