2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the creation of Perth Theatre Company, and Perth Theatre is celebrating 75 years of panto in Perth with its traditional family pantomime Aladdin.
Crammed with crazy costumes, colourful characters and cheesy gags, Perth Theatre's Aladdin is traditional panto in the truest sense. Given a distinctly local slant by director Ian Grieve and comedian Bruce Fummey and featuring cast of Fair City favourites, Aladdin is packed with in-jokes, silly songs, booing, hissing and "he's behind you"s!
Evil Wizard Abanazar's quest to find the magic lamp leads him to Peeking Perthshaa where lovestruck Aladdin yearns to meet the beautiful Princess Pikaboo. Wishee Washee is all in a lather, the Empress needs new clothes, Widow Twankey frets about shop front colours and, in the background, the Fashion Police lurk with their not so miraculous makeover routine.
Ian Grieve explained.
"There are loads of in-jokes that locals and visitors alike will all get and we've lined up some cracking song and dance routines that youngsters will love. It's a perfect traditional show in a perfect traditional theatre, created specially for our fantastically supportive Perth Theatre panto audience - we can't wait to get on that stage!"
The full cast includes; school teacher turned stand-up, Bruce Fummey making his acting debut in the role of Wishee Washee, River City's Lorna Craig is Aladdin and Tom McGovern is Abanazar. Playing the Empress, Lesley Mackie makes it a family affair as she will be joined on stage by her daughter Katy Wale as Princess Pikaboo. Brooke Bell is Spirit of the Ring, Gareth Morrison plays the Genie, Amanda Beveridge and Helen Logan team up as Fashion Police and Graham Crammond plays Widow Twankey. 18 local youngsters will play villagers and chorus.
Perth Theatre's Aladdin runs from Friday 3 December to Saturday 8 January. For tickets and information call Horsecross Arts on 01738 621 031, click here.