Theatre News

London panto success takes a seaside holiday

Anne Morley-Priestman

There’s nothing new in a regional production being picked up for a London season or national tour. It doesn’t often happen the other way round. But the Little Theatre in Sheringham, on the Norfolk coast not far from Cromer, has acquired Dick Whittington and His Cat from Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in an unusual piece of theatrical co-operation.

Debbie Thompson is the Little’s artistic director and contacted her opposite number at the Lyric Sean Holmes after seeing the panto last year. Holmes agreed to Sheringham acquiring the production and the new cast includes a member of the original show – Nathan Bryon plays the eponymous Cat, a street-wise feline with attitude.Sarah the Cook will be Russel Hicken and Dick himself is to be played by Aaron White.

Dan Herd, assistant director at the Lyric, will act as a consultant to Simon Thompson, who is making his debut as a pantomime director with this production. He is a drama and media tutor at Paston Sixth Form College (which supports this project) and has directed plays for the Little Theatre’s summer seasons, as well as community productions.

“The collaboration between The Lyric, Paston College and Sheringham Little Theatre is so exciting. This pantomime promises to be very special, with all the traditional elements and plenty of modern twists too!” says an enthusiastic Debbie Thompson. The original writers were Joel Horwood, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and Steve Marmion.