Following the final performance of Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s 2021/22 pantomime Cinderella yesterday, Sunday 9 January, there is much to celebrate having successfully completed the full pantomime season in such uncertain times. Despite many challenges potentially facing both the production and audience members, attendance exceeded 46,000 across the run with 37% of that total attending the Grand Theatre for the first time.
Amongst that audience total, there was an increase of 149% in South Asian attendance from the previous pantomime which is a result of the dedicated work of the Grand Theatre South Asian Audience Development Ambassadors. Starring AJ and Curtis Pritchard, Evie Pickerill, Denise Pearson, Tam Ryan and Ian Adams alongside a hugely talented and popular company, there was a record number of five star reviews for the production and audience feedback and the thousands of social media comments have been overwhelmingly positive.
Such success has resulted in over 10,000 tickets already sold for the Grand Theatre’s next pantomime Aladdin from Saturday 3 December 2022 – Saturday 7 January 2023. A star cast will be announced soon.
Admired by performers and audiences alike for its friendly welcome and intimate three-tiered Victorian auditorium, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre opened in 1894 and is a long-established theatre in the heart of the Midlands. It receives a wide range of major touring productions including drama, musicals, ballet, dance, opera, variety, concerts, children’s shows and one of the biggest pantomimes in the UK, with audiences from across the region and beyond taking advantage of excellent transport links to the town.
Through extensive Creative Learning and Access work, the Grand Theatre strives to reach even more people through the magic of theatre. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s artistic vision has recently given emphasis to re-establishing the theatre’s history of producing quality in-house theatre for the people of Wolverhampton and beyond. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre celebrated its 125th Anniversary on 10 December 2019.
