St Helens extends its online panto season to beat lockdown blues

St Helens Theatre Royal is extending its online panto season until the end of January.

Beauty and the Beast aims to bring some seasonal cheer to families across Merseyside and beyond.

The show, which opened at the theatre on December 11, was due to run for live, socially distanced audiences until January 3 but because of restrictions imposed to tackle Covid infection rates it had to cut its performances short.

Theatre bosses decided to take the show online with a specially filmed version of the Christmas Eve performance available until January 10.

But they have now announced an extension to the broadcasts to help keep spirits up during this latest lockdown.

Theatre Royal manager and panto director Chantelle Nolan said: “To watch theatre online from the comfort of your own home could be a lovely treat to children, giving them something to look forward to after doing their schoolwork or at a weekend and it also supports the theatre through the lockdown period.

“We’re proud to say that during our 36-show Christmas run, we didn’t have a single positive case and no cases reported to us via the public or track and trace. Our staff and full company were tested on a regular basis and we were delighted to receive constant feedback from customers saying how safe they felt in the theatre.

“We’re really looking forward to bringing back audiences into the theatre for live performance and our Easter Pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears which is now on sale.”

Beauty and the Beast is available online until January 31. More details HERE