The Stage

First Family sticks with tradition for second panto season

Published Tuesday 4 July 2006 at 14:55 by Alistair Smith

First Family Entertainment, the pantomime company joint venture between Live Nation and Ambassador Theatre Group, has announced its second season, with an emphasis on traditional panto favourites and soap stars.

Headlining FFE’s Christmas programme will be ex-Dallas star Patrick Duffy, who played Bobby Ewing in the hit US show, Aled Jones, Toyah Willcox, Jonathan Wilkes and Bobby Davro, alongside Coronation Street stars Bradley Walsh, Vicky Entwistle and John Savident and EastEnders actress Kacey Ainsworth.

Duffy commented: “I am delighted to be part of this great British tradition, I think it’s wonderful that pantomime is something that entertains the whole family. What better way to spend Christmas than performing live to all my fans in the UK. I have always been made very welcome on my previous trips to England and look forward to appearing at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking.”

The programme, which runs at nine venues across the UK - one more than in FFE’s inaugural year - does not feature the same number of theatre actors making their pantomime debuts as in its inaugural year. Simon Callow, Richard Wilson, Susan Hampshire, John Barrowman and John Rhys-Davies all featured in FFE pantomimes last year. However, Hampshire returns this year at Woking.