'Peter Pan' takes panto to the next level
Nothing screams Christmas like a festive trip to the pantomime with the kids (or big kids.)
Last updated 6th Dec 2017
This year, the Grand Opera House have taken panto to the next level.
With 70,000 tickets sold before the opening night, 2017 promised to be a huge success and the show did not disappoint.
Featuring cast from Britain's Got Talent, Emmerdale, some of the finest local actors and the Queen of comedy herself May McFettridge, the overall act is a festive treat to behold.
May is celebrating her 28th year of pantomime at the Grand Opera House and this year stars as Mrs Smee, the wife of Smee the sailor.
Despite almost three decades in the role, the panto dame is still as popular as ever, with local references throughout and quips that the Northern Ireland audience can truly appreciate.
This year, politics was in her firing line with Stormont and Brexit featuring in her witty list of one liners.
May captured the audience as usual inviting them into the magical world of Neverland while involving them in the overall performance.
'Peter Pan' expertly blends all of the conventional aspects of traditional panto with new and modern twists.
The show's music featured popular songs from Ed Sheeran and Jess Glynne transformed into renditions that expertly fit the unique storyline.
The highlight of the show however was unequivocally the 3D special effects scene during part two of the performance.
Children and adults alike were wowed with an underwater scene brought to life by the special 3D glasses provided.
For some young audience members, perhaps the ocean creatures were a little too lifelike.
The scene narrated by Mimi the Magical Mermaid, played by former Emmerdale actor Claire King, is a new addition for 2017 and earned much admiration from the crowd.
It was an impressive spectacle and elevated the show to a new level in pantomime for Northern Ireland and a new level in interactive theatre.
Alongside Claire King and the illustrious May McFettridge, double Olivier award wining David Bedella starred as the perfect villainous Captain Hook.
The chat show host played the 'baddie' with expert precision.
Bedella earned all of the predictive hisses and boos from the enchanted audience that the bad guy in the Christmas panto deserves.
Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Paul Burling featured as Starkey complimenting May's jokes flawlessly.
The famous Harry Hill impersonator whipped the children up between scene changes with his very own impersonation of cartoon characters, featuring Marge and Homer Simpson among other well-loved animated favourites.
Northern Ireland's own Mikey Jay-Heath plays the leading role of Peter Pan himself who has a number of professional and training credits under his belt.
Peter flies across the stage throughout, spreading his whimsical message with help from his trustee sidekick Tinker Bell (played by Limerick's Hollie O'Donoghue.)
'Peter Pan' 2017 at the Grand Opera House is a truly interactive experience.
The combination of enchanted stage sets, spectacular costumes, special effects and expert casting culminates in a feel-good festive spectacle that will leave the whole family believing in magic.
