Popular television presenter Alison Hammond is to return to her home city for her second panto and will play the Magical Mermaid in Birmingham Hippodrome’s Peter Pan.
She will reunite with Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack, who will return to the theatre for the 11th consecutive year in his 22nd panto.
Hammond said, “Birmingham: I’m back! I loved every second of Jack and the Beanstalk last year. We had so much fun, but it went by so fast that I had to come back for another. Birmingham is home to the best audiences, and I can’t wait to see them in Neverland.”
The Hippodrome’s artistic director and chief executive officer Jon Gilchrist added, “the audience reaction to Alison last year was incredible, and we know she’s going to be a fantastic addition to the Peter Pan cast. Panto is such a special time of year, and we love seeing families and friends come together to share in the magic of live performance over the festive season.”
Michael Harrison, chief executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, who will produce and direct Peter Pan, said, “Alison is a born entertainer who was a triumph last year with audiences. With Alison, the comic talent of Matt Slack and the spectacular set and costumes which debuted at the London Palladium last Christmas, we're set for our biggest and most exciting Birmingham panto yet."
Peter Pan will run at Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 21 December until Sunday 2 February 2025.