South Shields’ Customs House has announced the casting for its 2021/22 panto, Rapunzel, which will run from 24 November 2021 to 8 January 2022.
Rapunzel was originally intended to be the 2020 show but of course COVID intervened and, along with almost every panto in the country, it had to be cancelled. Now writers Ray Spencer and Graeme Thompson have dusted off the script, updated it and are ready to take audiences back to Cooksonville to enjoy the Little Panto with the Big Heart's version of the classic fairytale from the Brothers Grimm.
Rapunzel has been locked in Cleadon Tower by her evil stepmother Gothel who tells her it’s for her own good—but really it’s so she can control the King, and soon the story of a princess with magical hair locked up in a tower reaches the ears of Rumpelstiltskin, who plots to steal Rapunzel’s hair and spin it into gold.
Will the Fairy of the Hills protect her?
Will Much the miller’s son find her in time?
Will Dame Bella Ballcock’s new beauty salon make the cut?
Will her hapless son Arbuthnot cure his rash?
All will be revealed by a cast of Customs House favourites and newcomers to this most popular of pantos: Beth Clarke (Rapunzel), Ray Spencer as Dame Bella Ballcock (of course!), Davey Hopper as Bella's daft son Arbuthnot, Steven Lee Hamilton (Much), Eleanor Chaganis (Mother Gothel), Chloe Jane Millar (Fairy of the Hills), Wayne Miller (The King) and William Wyn Davies (Rumplestiltskin).
Performance times vary and tickets, priced from £10.75, are available from the box office in person, by phone on (0191) 454 1234 or on the Customs House web site.