Two pantos from the North East have been singled out in the 2020 Great British Pantomime Awards which were announced online over five nights from 29 April to 3 May.
Scarlett Moffatt, who played the Fairy Godmother in Sunderland Empire’s Cinderella, was chosen as Best Newcomer. Best known for Gogglebox and I’m a Celebrity, Moffatt comes from Bishop Auckland in Co Durham and she played on that local connection with her Durham "Pitmatic" accent and down-to-earth character.
The Empire also got a nod in the Best Ugly Sisters category with a nomination for drag artiste Miss Rory (aka North Easterner Dan Cunningham) and Duncan Burt who played Rorina and Ruby Hardup.
Also nominated were costume designers and makers Matt Fox and Paul Shriek for Snow White at the Customs House. Shriek won Best Costume Design in 2018 for The Lambton Worm and both were nominated for Beauty and the Beast in 2019.
Charlie Raine, who won Best Animal Performer for Cutlet the Signing Sheep in Beauty and the Beast at the Customs House in 2019, this year announced the nominations and winner of the award for Best Ensemble.