ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
CHATHAM PANTO IS PURRRFECT!
THIS YEAR’ S PANTOMIME AT THE CENTRAL THEATRE, CHATHAM, IS SIMPLY THE CAT’ S WHISKERS! DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT OPENS ON FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER AND RUNS UNTIL MONDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2018.
The all-star cast is headed by star of stage and screen, Ray Quinn, who takes the title role. Ray is a multi-talented actor, singer, dancer and ice skater whose first screen appearance was in Brookside as Anthony Murray back in 1999 when he was just 10. Since then, Ray has gone on to reach The X Factor final in 2006, only losing out to Leona Lewis. That led to a career in music and, of late, musicals including Grease, Legally Blonde, Dirty Dancing and, currently, the UK tour of Summer Holiday as Don. He is also well known for‘ doing the double’ on ITV’ s Dancing on Ice, winning for the first time in 2009 and again in 2014 for the Champion of Champions show. Ray is no stranger to panto, having performed in venues up and down the country over the years but this is his first outing as our hero, Dick Whittington.
Joe Tracini returns home to Medway for a third year, this time as Idle Jack, the lazy son of Sarah the Cook – played by panto veteran Ian Good. The pair teamed up last year in the smash hit, Sleeping Beauty, and the Central Theatre is delighted that they’ re back as another panto mother and son combo. Joe is known to many for his time on Hollyoaks as Dennis Savage and is currently on-screen in his second series of the hit CBBC show The Dengineers. Ian has appeared in over 35 pantomimes as well as performing in and directing many stage musicals and plays. You might also recognise him as one half of the Bounty kitchen roll competitive housewives, Brenda and Audrey – having starred in their TV ads for nine years.
Get your boos and hisses ready for the evil King Rat, played by West End star, Steven Serlin. Steven has been playing baddies for many years in pantos across the land and, this year, was very proud to be nominated for Best Baddie at the Great British Panto Awards.
Completing the cast is Jessica Croll as Alice Fitzwarren – will Dick Whittington win her heart? Jessica is currently on tour as Jane in
Salad Days, following the UK tour of Wonderland in which she played first-cover Alice. And not forgetting Dick Whittington’ s faithful feline friend – his cat!
The cast also features 20 young dancers from across Medway and Kent who successfully auditioned with over 100 hopefuls to gain their chance to shine!
After last year’ s dream of a panto, Sleeping Beauty, Dick Whittington promises to be the adventure of a lifetime from the streets of London on a spectacular voyage across the seven seas to Morocco.
Ring out the bells for the best festive family entertainment around – book now at www. medwayticketslive. co. uk or call the Box Office on 01634 338338.
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