A production of Sleeping Beauty, filmed live at the Brindley Theatre in Cheshire and re-mastered for digital audiences will be available to stream into your living room this December, with proceeds going to UK charities.
Starring actor and comic Crissy Rock as ‘Fairy Nuff’ appearing alongside a cast of professional musical theatre performers, the two-hour show is packed with everything audiences will love, from spectacular scenery to extravagant costumes, topical jokes and special effects.
Most importantly, a donation from the main event page on Ticketmaster Universe, priced at £15.49 per household, will be split equally between the Actors Benevolent Fund and the Equity Benevolent Fund. This will help give vital support in a year when the arts have been dramatically hit by the lockdown and when thousands of theatre staff face Christmas and New Year without employment.
MENCAP, Great Ormond Street, Barnardo’s and Cancer Research UK will also receive revenue from their own ticket sales for the event – an offer that is open to smaller charities. Regional theatres promoting the show to their patrons can receive a share in revenue from ticket sales they generate.
Karen Courtney, a veteran pantomime producer who founded The Original Online Panto Company to digitise Sleeping Beauty in the wake of the second lockdown said: “This year, I’ve seen colleagues, friends, theatres and the creative industries suffer and I wanted to do something to support them and help the charity sector while keeping the panto season alive. We had weeks to turn this around and what we’ve made is incredible, working with a fantastic production of Sleeping Beauty by Polka Dot Pantomimes. The most important thing to all of us involved is to ensure that charities who need the funding the most benefit from the sales of these tickets.
“If you’re reading this and you have a theatre, a charity, or maybe you’re a performer who has had a tough year, why not get involved promoting what we hope will become the biggest pantomime production in the world, seen by millions while raising funds for your cause? People of every age will love this production of Sleeping Beauty, it’s the perfect gift to send loved ones and hopefully everyone buying tickets will feel happier this Christmas knowing they’ve supported UK charities and the arts.”
Actor and writer Eric Potts who has also been involved in the creation of the project said: “This is top quality British pantomime at its best, charming and traditional, it’s a fabulously festive treat to watch with your loved ones from the comfort of your own home, while helping lots of great charities who have struggled to raise funds this year.
“With the added option of a personalised message from Father Christmas in Lapland, this is everything you need for a magical and memorable treat this Christmas.”
Tickets are available for £15.49 per household and they are available from: https://www.theoriginalonlinepantocompany.com/
