Two Derby Christmas shows postponed for a year

Published: 11 September 2020
Reporter: Steve Orme

“Socially distanced family show”: The Little Mermaid
Twelve months’ rest: Sleeping Beauty

Derby’s two major 2020 Christmas shows have been postponed for 12 months, Derby Theatre putting off Aladdin and the city council delaying Sleeping Beauty which should have been staged at Derby Arena.

Instead, Derby Theatre will put on Mike Kenny’s The Little Mermaid, a “delightful, socially distanced family show ideal for all ages”. It will run from Wednesday 2 December until Saturday 2 January 2021.

Meanwhile, the city council said it held out for as long as possible before making the decision to postpone Sleeping Beauty. The authority’s arts and entertainment arm Derby LIVE and Derby-based production company Little Wolf Entertainment looked into staging it with social distancing measures but found a panto on that scale would not be viable.

Morgan Brind and Alan Bowles of Little Wolf said, “obviously we’re heartbroken not to be creating the annual Derby LIVE panto magic this Christmas. We’re passionate about the shows we make and it’s become increasingly clear that we wouldn’t be able to safely present a show of our usual size and spectacle.”

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