By Conor O’Neill
With some 2400 Grand Opera house appearances below her belt, Belfast, and indeed, Northern Ireland favourite, May McFettridge will play another season before the legendary venue closes its doors for a refurb.
The gap-toothed, North Belfast fishwife will be playing the dame in 2019’s Odos Entertainment’s production of Beauty and the Beast alongside Footballers’ Wives and Holby City star Ben Richards and Britain’s Got talent comedy magician Mandy Muden with another 20 plus actors to boot
In her long career, Mcfettridge has shared the Opera House’s stage with names such as Jimmy Cricket, Su Pollard, Linda Nolan, Britt Ekland, Emmerdale’s Lisa Reilly and of course, kids’ favourites, Rainbow’s Zippy, George and Bungle.
2018’s Jack and the Beanstalk sold over 80,000 tickets and this year’s sales are already going fast.
Grand opera House chief executive, Ian Wilson said: “May McFettridge is a true legend and we are delighted she will celebrate her 30th pantomime anniversary this year. When you think of pantomime you automatically think of May and all that she brings to the show every year.
“All of May’s colleagues at the Grand Opera House, and a generation of theatre goers would like to thank her for all the laughter she has brought us through the years.”
Beauty and the beast will be the final show before the Opera House closes for a 12.2 million pound restoration project before reopening in November 2020 which sees the old girl turn 125-years-old.
Beauty and the Beast opens on November 30th and runs until January 12th.
For booking information visit http://www.goh.co.uk or phone the box office on 02890 241919
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