Actress and producer Leah Bell will direct and appear in Consett Empire’s panto for the 9th year running. This year’s show will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which has been given a distinctly local feel, with Sir Rodney Rotten of Rowlands Gill and Wicked Queen Dolores of Derwentside kidnapping the beautiful Snow White.
There's also a new storyline about the town’s toy factory, which is busy making presents for Santa to deliver on Christmas Eve. Naturally, the panto villains are on the naughty list and their treacherous actions prompt toy soldiers from the factory to join the hunt to find Snow White and reunite her with her beloved, Prince Edmund of Ebchester.
Maria May plays Snow White, Jason Jones is Queen Dolores, James de Lauch Hay Sir Rodney, Alex Seymour Prince Edmund and Leah Bell herself plays Mary Christmas.
“This is the ninth panto I have produced for the Empire Theatre,” said Leah Bell, “and it’s something I look forward to all year. It’s a wonderful venue and we always receive such a warm response from audiences.”
Performances will take place at various dates and times between 30 November and 31 December. Tickets are £17 for adults, £15 for concessions and £56 for a family of four with a minimum of one adult. Group booking discounts are also available.