Beauty and the Beast GOH preview
By Conor O’Neill
I know, I know, we’re all being bombarded on social media about ‘how many days until Chrimbo’ and Halloween hasn’t even passed, but for those of you stocking up on canned food and meds as Brexit approaches or the wise who buy next year’s Christmas cards on Boxing Day, this little preview may just whet your lips.
Luvvies and darlings, parents and grandparents… Belfast’s Grand Opera House has just revealed its panto line-up and title for this year’s Christmas spectacular. As sure there’s a foot on the end of my leg, to quote an Irish News journo, ‘The face that sank a thousand ships’ AKA May McFettridge is to appear for her 30th consecutive panto role. Not only does she add glamour but one-liners that’ll leave your sides aching and enough innuendos and adult gags that’ll happily fly over your youngsters’ heads.
Nearly 80,000 tickets sold for last year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk. This year it’s Beauty and the Beast to get the GOH treatment. The last performance before the beautiful building gets a refurb in mid January.
Of course, McFettridge can’t carry an entire show; not with that corset, blooms of under garments and a Belfast fishwife’s mind. Ben Richards, of Hollyoaks, Holby City and Footballers’ Wives fame, joins Grand Opera House panto favourites Paddy Jenkins and Georgia Lennon.
Richards said, “This will be my first time on the Belfast stage and I couldn’t be more excited playing the beast alongside this fabulous cast. I’ve heard amazing things about the Grand opera House, and I know everyone’s going to love this show.”
As mentioned above, this may seem preview may seem premature giving we’re only at the start of September, but such is the anticipation 42,000 tickets have already been sold.
To get yours phone the box office on 02890 241919 or visit http://www.goh.co.uk
Note to the adults, and it doesn’t matter where you sit and try to hide, for your dignity please gets your roots done, don’t admit/boast your postcode is BT9 or say you’ve driven from Warrenpoint!
Beauty and the Beast runs from November 30th until January 12th.
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