Dick Wittington and His Cat, Exeter Corn Exchange, Saturday 17th December 201 to Sunday 8th January 2012
Christmas just isn’t the same without a pantomime so it is very good tidings indeed that, following the success of last year’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the same professional producers are back with another glittering treat for Exeter.
Directed by Ian Trafford for Kickline Productions, Dick Whittington and his Cat at Exeter Corn Exchange combines all the elements that make for a surefire family hit: a cracking story, colourful sets and costumes, and slapstick comedy delivered impeccably by a seasoned cast.
Headlining this year is former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan as King Rat. As well as finding fame on BBC TV as a presenter for Blue Peter and Duncan Dares, Peter has also appeared in many stage musicals including Barnum and The Card, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award.
More recently Peter has turned his hand to writing and directing musicals for Oxford Playhouse. Before coming to Exeter to play King Rat he wrote and directed the panto for Oxford, Mother Goose.
Locally born actor Daniel Oliver as Dick will try to stop King Rat and his henchrats from ruining Christmas for the good people of Exeter, ably assisted by Exeter – and probably Devon’s – favourite panto dame, Steve Bennett as Sarah the Cook.
Also in the mix are Kate Dininn as Dick’s faithful Puss, Tim Goodwin as Alderman Pasha, Andrea Sadler as Fairy Bow-belle and Tara Stapley as the beautiful Alice.
This will be Steve Bennett’s sixteenth consecutive outing as Exeter’s professional panto dame. If there’s anything he doesn’t know about getting an audience going and on the side of the hero, it’s not worth knowing!
Contact the Box Office on 01392 665938 and visit the Exeter City Council website to find out more about the show and the cast.
Can Dick Whittington and his Cat save Christmas in Exeter? Oh yes they can!