Our beloved Theatre Royal pantomime is under threat.
Our highly popular dame retired last year after 40 years.
This year was slightly different, he was missed. He still wrote the script and the other 4 main stalwarts were in it as usual. Different but still good.
Families, like ours, have gone annually for years with each new generation joining the tradition. People travel across the country to see it every year,
Yesterday the cast were told their contracts are not being renewed and the theatre wants to 'be brave and move in a new direction'.
This has caused a furore on the FB panto group to which I belong. We have signed petitions and had our say. The cast are gutted. In the end the new director at the theatre will do what he wants I suppose.
Not only would we miss our panto, I fear for the theatre, a beautiful Georgian one which I have spent so much time in all my life.
In recent years it is well known that the theatre survives throughout the year on the annual income from the weeks of highly successful pantomime, most of which is paid for well ahead..
We have to book and pay upfront in spring in order to get good seats, therefore they have our money all that time, and seats are far from cheap.
Things have to change in life, but this sudden and drastic change will not work. If any of us go to the the new style of panto or whatever they decide in place of it next year, we will NOT book and pay 9 or 10 months ahead, and we won't pay what we have paid in the past for tickets.
I fear the new director has no business sense, no knowledge of York audiences, and no real concern for the future of our theatre.
I will report back.
New venues for the old cast and format are amongst the many ideas flying about.
Also, that those attending the last night refuse to leave the theatre until this is sorted out!!
Our highly popular dame retired last year after 40 years.
This year was slightly different, he was missed. He still wrote the script and the other 4 main stalwarts were in it as usual. Different but still good.
Families, like ours, have gone annually for years with each new generation joining the tradition. People travel across the country to see it every year,
Yesterday the cast were told their contracts are not being renewed and the theatre wants to 'be brave and move in a new direction'.
This has caused a furore on the FB panto group to which I belong. We have signed petitions and had our say. The cast are gutted. In the end the new director at the theatre will do what he wants I suppose.
Not only would we miss our panto, I fear for the theatre, a beautiful Georgian one which I have spent so much time in all my life.
In recent years it is well known that the theatre survives throughout the year on the annual income from the weeks of highly successful pantomime, most of which is paid for well ahead..
We have to book and pay upfront in spring in order to get good seats, therefore they have our money all that time, and seats are far from cheap.
Things have to change in life, but this sudden and drastic change will not work. If any of us go to the the new style of panto or whatever they decide in place of it next year, we will NOT book and pay 9 or 10 months ahead, and we won't pay what we have paid in the past for tickets.
I fear the new director has no business sense, no knowledge of York audiences, and no real concern for the future of our theatre.
I will report back.
New venues for the old cast and format are amongst the many ideas flying about.
Also, that those attending the last night refuse to leave the theatre until this is sorted out!!
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