J’AIME DECEMBER 2021

F E AT U R E
Panto is back, oh yes it is!
IT’S TIME FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN, SEATS TO BE TAKEN, CURTAINS TO BE PARTED, STAGE LIGHTS TO
GO ON, THE SHOW MUST GO ON AS PANTO IS BACK! JAZZ SHERGILL CAUGHT UP WITH THE CAST OF
THE ALL NEW ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN AT LICHFIELD GARRICK THEATRE
MARCUS BILLANY AS PETER PAN, DAVID MCKECHNIE
AS CAPTAIN HOOK AND SAM RABONE AS MRS SMEE
After a whirlwind of a year during the COVID-19
pandemic, panto is finally back. Lichfield Garrick
Theatre has opened its stage doors and this year’s
wonderful performance is all about the boy who
wouldn’t grow up, All-New Adventures of Peter Pan.
The Lichfield Garrick Theatre has come together
with Paul Hendy and Evolution Productions to
bring audiences a great festive treat with this year’s
full-scale pantomime. After not being able to put on
shows for over a year, they will be going all out for
this special time.
As many other industries, the theatre world took
a great hit due to the pandemic and the cast are
excited more than ever, to get back on stage and put
on a spectacular performance for their audience.
The talented Marcus Billany is playing the part of
Peter and he’s familiar with this role, having stood in
for Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Pritchard during his
show two years ago.
Marcus is looking forward to putting on a
performance and Peter Pan wouldn’t be Peter Pan if
there was no flying involved, right?
“It’s been so long since I’ve been able to perform
on stage, so it’s just great to get back and I’ll also be
flying during the show, I was scared at first when I
had to do it before but then eventually got used to it
and I’m excited to get back into it,” he says.
Sam Rabone, a familiar face to Lichfield panto
audiences, is back for his sixth year at the Garrick
as he stars as Mrs Smee. That’s as well as being the
show’s director for the fourth year.
“It’s my first time doing Peter Pan, so I’m very
excited because it’s brilliant for both boys and girls to
enjoy,” says Sam.
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