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Post by stevej678 on Jan 3, 2017 10:04:17 GMT
Amanda Holden, Nigel Havers and Lee Mead - "the biggest and best names" - really? If you compare Amanda Holden, Paul Zerdin, Paul O Grady, Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and Lee Mead are the biggest names COMPARED to other pantomimes across the country. No other panto has big names like that, whether you personally like the celebrities or not you cannot deny they are popular and big. Isn't popularity subjective and a matter of perception though, George? It’s possible to detach my own personal opinion (not that I really have one, good or bad, on most of the Palladium cast). It’s really not cold hard fact that the individuals in question are popular. The same can be said of celebrity status. Apart from Paul O’Grady and Amanda Holden, the media profile of the rest of the Cinderella cast seems pretty much non-existent. Even the use of the word "celebrity" for some of them seems a stretch. For me, the only real difference between the Palladium panto cast and many high profile regional productions is that this year’s Palladium show features a greater number of names that people may recognise in a single production, whereas regional productions in the larger venues usually get only a couple of familiar faces in each. If we compare the Palladium’s production with Snow White at my local venue, the Liverpool Empire, for example, the latter has had Jorgie Porter in the title role this Christmas. Jorgie’s casting has got the production a fair amount of press coverage (rather bizarrely, what she’s wearing as she leaves stage door is deemed to be newsworthy), while she has an association with the city through her role in Hollyoaks and has also appeared in the likes of I’m A Celebrity and Dancing on Ice. I’m not saying that Jorgie’s casting was an incredible coup for the theatre but I don’t believe that taking any of the names from the Palladium production and adding them to the Empire‘s line-up in Jorgie's place would have triggered an uplift in ticket sales or press attention, with the possible exception of Paul O’Grady who would have gone down a storm in Liverpool (probably more so than any other city). Incidentally, the Empire has confirmed that Snow White has enjoyed record ticket sales and has been the most successful pantomime in its history so they must have got something right. Even without Nigel Havers! I expect that Dick Whittington at the Palladium will get the usual mix of well-known and fairly well-known faces in the principal roles, the vast majority of whom are equally as likely to be appearing in individual productions up and down the country. The idea that the Palladium has access to an extensive directory of so-called A-list celebrities, that other pantomimes can only dream of, really doesn’t stack up for me. We’ll have to agree to disagree!  |
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Post by daniel on Jan 10, 2017 14:29:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 16:13:42 GMT
No that's sure whether to be surprised or not because I have realised that the names at Wimbledon have declined in previous years, imo. Looking forward to seeing who Qdos put in their Wimbledon panto given the Palladium will still be their main one!! Hopefully we won't have to wait until October like we did with FFE for the last few years!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2017 20:38:08 GMT
I find it weird that even know it's been confirmed Qdos will run all of FFE's previous venues, they still haven't announced this year's pantomimes for any of the venues. On Qdos' website there is the pantomimes for all their venues for this year (as well as some casting already!) so they will have to release the FFE venue pantomimes soon so people can start booking.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2017 18:41:36 GMT
I came up with some casting suggestions obviously based on if there was a DREAM budget. List goes from most wanted celeb downwards.
Fairy Bowbells - Kylie Minogue (wouldn't do it), Barbara Windsor (probably wouldn't do it), Fleur East, Emma Bunton, Pamela Anderson
Queen Rat - Alesha Dixon, Mel B (Scary Spice)
Dick - Duncan James
Alice - Ashleigh and Pudsey
Idle Jack - Bradley Walsh, Paul Zerdin
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Post by infofreako on Jan 13, 2017 20:44:18 GMT
Not sure much of that would take a dream budget and looks more like nightmare casting to me. Mel B wouldnt be averse to doing it though because she was down for the Wembley Arena panto last year before it got binned
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Post by infofreako on Jan 14, 2017 9:19:55 GMT
I must admit once the palladium confirmed last year i thought Wembley would struggle and clearly now palladium are doing dick whittington the wembley one going ahead this time was doomed
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Post by infofreako on Jan 14, 2017 9:35:04 GMT
Im surprised by that but stand corrected
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 19:10:49 GMT
Judging by Michael Harrison's tweets, I've got a horrible feeling that the Palladium will be home to The Krankies this Xmas! Please no!! I would hate for them to sell ticket sales off word of mouth from Cinderella and then not get huge celebrities like they did last yesr
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 29, 2017 19:14:24 GMT
Well they did Dick Whittington with John Barrowman at Birmingham this season! I could not believe my eyes and ears. I posted my thoughts up the thread!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 19:18:37 GMT
Well they did Dick Whittington with John Barrowman at Birmingham this season! I could not believe my eyes and ears. I posted my thoughts up the thread! Critics didn't say it was the best. I really hope we don't get John Barrowmand, Krankies and Steve Macfadden! Please not after a great lineup last year!  |
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 29, 2017 22:31:45 GMT
Judging by Michael Harrison's tweets, I've got a horrible feeling that the Palladium will be home to The Krankies this Xmas! Please no!! I would hate for them to sell ticket sales off word of mouth from Cinderella and then not get huge celebrities like they did last yesr You can't expect the Palladium to bag megastars like Nigel Havers every year. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 29, 2017 23:00:00 GMT
I do think the combination of Julian Clary and Paul O'Grady will take some equalling to be honest! I haven't laughed so much in ages!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 23:57:57 GMT
I'm not familiar with story or characters of Dick Whittington but any chance Julian Clary can come back? Pretty please!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 0:45:46 GMT
I'm not familiar with story or characters of Dick Whittington but any chance Julian Clary can come back? Pretty please!! He has played 'The Spirit of the Bells' in Dick Whittington before (previously in Birmingham and Northampton), and even 'Chris the cat' in the 2002 ITV panto (check out the first part below). So yeah, it is possible for him to return in Dick Whittington. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 30, 2017 0:51:12 GMT
Re Julian Clary - I don't think QDOS will let all those fabulous costumes that were made for him as Dandini go to waste next season. I can see him in Cinderella in Birmingham which they will sell as the London Palladium production.
They have said, however, that the Dick Whittington for the Palladium will be a new production and not the Birmingham one - i.e. new sets and costumes I presume!
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Jan 30, 2017 1:29:50 GMT
The issue with Qdos, in my opinion, is more the reusing of material rather than sets and costumes. Yes the Palladium was brilliant and the new set was excellent, but it's not an exaggeration to say that I reckon I've seen about 85% of the show in Birmingham over the last 4 years of panto I've seen there, not to mention all of the other Qdos productions which I'd except to be the same.
Obviously it's how panto is anyway, and clearly not many people watch multiple shows of theirs, but I'd love to see some more originality with the content.
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Post by infofreako on Jan 30, 2017 2:03:16 GMT
The problem with panto for me is it brings out your once a year theatre goers and for them a big set, flashy costumes and a star name are what counts.
Im not saying it needs to be a serious art form as by nature it cant be but I think companies could put a bit more effort in.
That said they get the cash rolling in anyway so why would they spend out more money that they dont need to?
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Post by mrcompanymanager on Jan 30, 2017 22:24:36 GMT
There's a few people I'd like to see cast - David Walliams as Sarah the Cook, Denise Van Outen as Fairy Bow Bells, Jim Davidson as King Rat, Stephen Mulhern as Dick.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 30, 2017 23:03:48 GMT
I would struggle to name a worse cast.......ok...the Krankies but apart from them?
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 31, 2017 13:15:10 GMT
With Ant and Dec's multi million pound ITV deal they simply don't need to flog themselves to death for 12 shows a week however much money they are offered. They would be box office gold though!
As for the Krankies - having actually seen them in Birmingham this year - I did feel at 69 (yes 69) she was simply really too old to get away with the little boy shtick! The sight of John Barrowman getting into bed (just don't ask) with a 69 year old woman or a little schoolboy was something I just can't un-see!
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Post by CG on the loose on Jan 31, 2017 13:41:22 GMT
As for the Krankies - having actually seen them in Birmingham this year - I did feel at 69 (yes 69) she was simply really too old to get away with the little boy shtick! The sight of John Barrowman getting into bed (just don't ask) with a 69 year old woman or a little schoolboy was something I just can't un-see! With you there, wickedgrin! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 20:29:54 GMT
Anyone any news on this? Casting ?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 20:48:10 GMT
Anyone any news on this? Casting ? Last Year, first casting was announced towards the end of May. Hope it isn't a downgrade on last years cast! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2017 7:48:49 GMT
Not until at least July, I'd think. Ok thank you. With so many other panto casts being announced I thought the cast for this may be announced soon. Thanks for the reply |
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