Starry first Christmas for First Family Entertainment

Published Tuesday 24 May 2005 at 16:05 by Alistair Smith

First Family Entertainment, the pantomime production company launched in January by Clear Channel Entertainment and the Ambassador Theatre Group, has announced that its inaugural season of shows will feature stars including Susan Hampshire, Kym Marsh, Richard Wilson, Twiggy, Simon Callow, Jonathan Wilkes and Caprice.

From December, the joint venture - formed by Howard Panter for ATG and David Ian for CCE, with producer Kevin Wood as chief executive - will stage pantomimes at eight venues across the UK.

Commenting on the season launch, Panter, managing director of ATG, said: “First Family Entertainment is a brand new pioneering and exciting partnership between CCE and ATG, which will ensure that each show offers the very best in traditional, professional, top-quality family entertainment. We are delighted with our inaugural line up of performers and productions, with several of the principal actors, including Richard Wilson, Susan Hampshire, Simon Callow, Jonathan Wilkes, John Barrowman, Stephen Gately, John Rhys-Davies and Caprice, making their pantomime debut this year.”

Featuring the traditional pantomimes Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin and Mother Goose performed at venues in Brighton, Bromley, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Richmond, Stoke, Wimbledon and Woking, the season will also feature regular pantomime performers Bobby Davro and Christopher Biggins, as well as singers Stephen Gately and Toyah Wilcox, and TV stars Patsy Kensit, Simon Shepherd, Shaun Williamson, Henry Luxemburg and Eric Potts.

Twiggy, who will be appearing at the Theatre Royal Brighton alongside Simon Shepherd, commented: “Pantomime is such a great British institution and I am really looking forward to playing the Fairy in Jack and the Beanstalk. I have always loved pantomime and what it represents, it is fun and light-hearted entertainment that brings all the family together and it is often the beginning of a child’s theatrical experiences.”