A COMMUNITY theatre company has announced that it will bring back its legendary pantomime, after a gap of several years, with roles up for grabs.
Tip Top Productions staged its annual pantomimes at the much-missed Forum Studio Theatre in Chester (formerly The Chester Gateway Theatre) until the Covid pandemic and re-development forced the closure of the venue.
Recent productions have included Cats and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Theatr Clwyd near Mold and Calendar Girls and The Sound of Music at Storyhouse in Chester.
This December will see Tip Top return to its roots as it brings its Pantomime back to Wrexham, re-establishing a much-loved Christmas tradition for families from across the North Wales and Chester area.
Five performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be staged at the William Aston Hall, Wrexham University from Thursday, December 5 until Saturday, December 7. Auditions for the production will be held this month.
The Pantomime will once again be written and directed by local panto legend Peter Swingler OBE, founder and former chair of Tip Top who has producing the festive favourites since the 1970s.
Speaking about bringing Tip Top's Pantomime's back to Wrexham, Peter said: “I am thrilled to return to Wrexham’s William Aston Hall, where my pantomime journey began in 1973. My history with the venue includes collaborations with the Wrexham Pantomime Company and the Kathie Dougall Pantomime Company, and the establishment of the renowned Grove Park Theatre pantomime in 1981. The William Aston Hall also played host to Tip Top’s inaugural Christmas production, Cinderella, way back in 1995. I am very much looking forward to getting started on the production, starting with auditions which will be held in June.”
Roles up for grabs are - Snow White, Prince RobRyan, Nurse Kitty Littler (the Dame), Queen Caroline (Snow White's nasty stepmother), Hunstman (assistant the Queen), Simon (a young, comedy role) and a loveable rabbit character, appealing especially to younger audience members.
Anyone interested in auditioning for these roles should contact Peter Swingler via email at swinglerp@gmail.com. Separate auditions for children to play the Seven Dwarfs will be held in September.
In addition to Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Tip Top are returning to Theatr Clwyd with the classic Broadway musical Sweet Charity from June 12 - 15 as well as bringing back perennial favourite Bouncers which will run at Storyhouse in Chester from August 7 – 10.
The company will also be returning to Storyhouse once again in October with Tip Top at The Musicals, a special celebration of the best of the West End and Broadway with songs from musicals old and new.
Full details of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sweet Charity and all other upcoming Tip Top Productions shows can be found at www.tiptopproductions.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
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