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2016 Panto at Grand Opera House - Belfast


Val4Gareth
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This has now been confirmed on Gareth's Website & Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/GarethGates

The clock has struck 12! @GrandOperaHouse has announced @Gareth_Gates stars in Cinderella! bit.ly/1Sc9enB pic.twitter.com/SfqC1ajsPx

http://www.pantomime.com/news/panto-idol-may-mcfettridge-and-pop-idol-gareth-gates-to-star-in-this-years

PANTO IDOL MAY MCFETTRIDGE AND POP IDOL GARETH GATES TO STAR IN THIS YEAR’S SPECTACULAR PANTOMIME, CINDERELLA!

The Grand Opera House has announced that Gareth Gates will star as Prince Charming in this year’s must-see pantomime Cinderella, alongside Northern Ireland’s Queen of Comedy May McFettridge in the role of the Fairy Godmother.

Gareth Gates rose to stardom in 2002 as runner-up in the UK’s first Pop Idol. In a phenomenal career which followed he has sold more than 3.5 million records in the UK, released three albums and had four UK number one singles.

Alongside his pop career Gareth has been seen on ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and The Big Reunion 2014 for ITV. Gareth’s theatre career has seen him play the role of Marius in the 25th anniversary tour ofLes Misérables for Sir Cameron Mackintosh, in Loserville at West Yorkshire Playhouse and the UK tours of Legally Blonde and Boogie Nights the Musical. He has regularly toured in the concert Mad About the Musicals and is currently starring in the UK tour of Footloose.

Gareth will star alongside Northern Ireland’s own May McFettridge in her 27th consecutive pantomime at the Grand Opera House. Having cooked up a storm as Nurse May in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs last year, May has swapped her wooden spoon for a magic wand capable of conjuring up a spectacular journey to the Prince’s ball, with stunning special effects and beautiful costumes.

Executive Producer and Director of Cinderella Jonathan Kiley said: “Following on from last year’s smash hit Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs I’m delighted that May and Gareth will lead the sensational cast of this year’s pantomime. With Gareth’s powerhouse vocals and May’s unique comic talents it’s going to be an unmissable show the entire family will enjoy”.

Ross Hickey, Head of Programming at the Grand Opera House said: “The Grand Opera House pantomime is such a popular event with families all
over Northern Ireland, and we’re delighted to have Gareth join May for the greatest pantomime of them all!”

With over 75,000 theatregoers attending pantomime at the Grand Opera House each festive season early booking is advised for the panto packed full of the traditional ingredients audiences expect, featuring laugh out loud comedy, fabulous song and dance and plenty of boos and hisses. Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very ugly sisters and meets her dashing Prince Charming.

BOOK TICKETS HERE :thumbsup:

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Guest NicolaJayne

I was also hoping for London this time, as last year was the first time I had to miss it for being too far away. But think that's a bit selfish of me as he has been down south for most of his panto's and his northern fans have had lots of travelling to see him.

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At least most the places round London, me, Sarahjane and Hayleycan get there and back the same night, there was only one where we had to get the tube to which we don't want to get again as was stressful for Sarahjane and now it would be to much of a risk to her health, but we're both happy as we know we have been lucky enough to of been to them all so far.

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  • 7 months later...
Think the writer Jeff Meredith, is one of those who thought Gareth's stammer cured.

 

The best panto ever: Cinderella at @gohbelfast

When you leave a show having smiled and laughed the whole way through, you know you’ve just seen something special. This years Panto at the Grand Opera House is simply the best ever, so it is.

Throughout the whole of the first half the action, mayhem and gegs are non stop and Norn Irish. May McFettridge kicks it all off by insulting everyone she can, watch out if you’re in the front row, and if you’re in the boxes, the spotlight will most certainly be on you. And don’t arrive into the auditorium late while May is on stage, you might regret it. Our grand auld doll of Panto is in top form. 

By the time Gareth Gates arrives on stage, you will already be fully acquainted with the Ugly Sisters and will probably have forgotten that Gareth is due to appear! We were like, oh, there’s Gareth. But when he sings it’s goosebumps time, because he has the sweetest voice. And you’ll be taken back to the memories of the Pop Idol days when a young Gareth lost out to Will Young; something that we are regularly reminded of in this show. It’s definitely inspiring to see him on stage and performing in such a madcap show knowing his struggle with a stutter; something that’s also mentioned during the show.

There are many highlights during this Panto. You’ll love a scene with Prince Charming, Buttons and Cinderella singing on a wall, you’ll be stunned and in stitches at the X-Factor tribute, you’ll laugh at the Black Swan and the big pink balloon, you’ll be rolling about laughing at the brilliant comedy routine with pots and pans, and you’ll equally hate and adore those two nasty ugly sisters. Pure geg!

You’ll be unbelievably charmed by the young kid and his dancing, and that scene just before the interval, when it snows in the theatre and everyone just sits in awe at the magic happening right in front of them, it’s theatre gold.

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The comic references to Dale Farm (the Panto sponsors) are product placement at its funniest and the kids on stage talking to thon auld doll May is too adorable. And let’s not forget last night when May got heckled by a child from the audience. Even she was shocked!! And when Rebecca McKinney who was in front of me during the show, almost got assaulted by an egg thrown from the stage! 

What a night, what a show. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Get in touch with the Opera House now and go see Cinderella. www.goh.co.uk

And if you can’t make it, then tickets for Peter Pan next year are already on sale and selling fast!

Jeff Meredith

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