PANTOMIME Returns to the London Palladium With CINDERELLA, Dec. 9

Qdos Entertainment, the world's biggest pantomime producer, today announces that for the first time in nearly three decades they are bringing pantomime 'home' to the magnificent London Palladium in the very heart of Theatreland. A magical production of the classic rags-to-riches tale Cinderella will be transformed into a breath-taking family extravaganza with glittering sets made especially for this iconic West End stage. The production will run from Friday 9 December 2016 until Sunday 15 January 2017.

The London Palladium was synonymous with lavish annual pantomimes from 1948-1987, and attracted some of the biggest stars of the day, including Julie Andrews, Sir Cliff Richard, Peter Sellers, Cilla Black and Ronnie Corbett, but the festive cornerstone has been absent for almost thirty festive seasons.

The last panto to grace the London venue was Babes in the Wood which starred such television deities as Dame Barbara Windsor, Cannon & Ball and Rod Hull and Emu.

This year however the art form will be given a spectacular West End revival by Qdos Entertainment, who over the past 34 years has produced over 650 pantomimes, establishing itself firmly as the UK's true nationwide panto producer, with shows spanning the length and breadth of the country from Belfast to Southend and Plymouth to Aberdeen.

Qdos Entertainment Chairman Nick Thomas is particularly proud to be bringing a large-scale production to the capital:

"Given the rich history of the London Palladium, where galaxies of top entertainers have appeared in traditional family pantomime, Qdos Entertainment is greatly honoured to have been invited to stage Cinderella at this iconic theatre."

"We are thrilled to be bringing pantomime back following an absence of nearly three decades with a sumptuous production that befits The Palladium's role as the home of pantomime in London."

The production will be directed by the producer of West End successes Gypsy, The Bodyguard and Mrs Henderson Presents, Qdos Entertainment's managing director Michael Harrison, and the multi-award-winning Andrew Wrightwhose recent West End choreographic credits have include Mrs Henderson Presents, Singin' In The Rain and Follies In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

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More details of the production, including casting will be announced soon.

Qdos Entertainment is the only pantomime producer to stage shows throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and this year the theatrical giant will present 24 pantomimes. Over 1.6 million people will see a Qdos Entertainment pantomime this season.

Staging and presenting shows on the scale of the Qdos' pantomime season requires a huge number of people working all year round, including carpenters, painters and a team of wardrobe staff that create and maintain the stage sets, effects and over 100,000 costumes.

During the pantomime season, it takes 1,000 people, including production staff and hundreds of cast members, to bring the magic of pantomime to life.

More information at: pantomime.com

The London Palladium is a venue to which all performers aspire and has hosted more annual Royal Variety Performances than any other theatre. Designed by Frank Matcham it opened on Boxing Day 1910 and became famous, partly through television, as the "Ace Variety Theatre of the World".

Among the greats that have played here are Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Sophie Tucker, Ethel Merman, Howard Keel, Arthur Askey, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Tommy Steele, Julie Andrews, Ken Dodd, the Two Ronnies, Bruce Forsyth and Cliff Richard.

In 1979 Yul Brynner arrived in a spectacular production of The King and I, which heralded further musicals in recent years including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver!, Saturday Night Fever, The King and I starring Elaine Paige, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tommy Steele in Scrooge and Sinatra at the Palladium, the hugely successful revival of The Sound of Music, Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus Line, Barry Humphries' Farewell Tour and Cats.

It has recently returned to its variety roots and is once again quickly becoming one of the most popular venues for leading musicians, performers and comedians.

The London Palladium is owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatres Group.

www.london-palladium.co.uk

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