Snow White And The Record Breaking Panto

The first professional pantomime at Harlow Council’s Playhouse Theatre for many years has been a record success.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ran from December 12 – January 11 and a total of 15,171 people came through the Playhouse’s doors to enjoy the show.

This is significantly higher than the previous record of 13,468 enjoyed by Cinderella in 2005-06.

Snow White also achieved the highest gross Box Office figure for a Playhouse pantomime of £188,986, dwarfing the previous best in 2005-06 when Cinderella achieved just over £150,000.

As well as being the first time Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been put on as the Playhouse panto, the show – produced by New Pantomime Productions Ltd - also featured celebrities in the guises of successful singer and former EastEnders actress Michelle Gayle and Mark Griffin, formerly Trojan from Gladiators.

Customer feedback for the show has also been overwhelmingly positive.

Councillor Eddie Johnson, Chairman of the Council’s Environment & Community Committee, said: “We are delighted with how successfully Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has performed. The record breaking sales show that the Playhouse continues to go from strength to strength.

“Although it was our first professional pantomime, almost 50 local people took part, which meant we were able to retain the community’s involvement.

“With the tough economic conditions out there it was great to see so many families come along and enjoy a little bit of festive panto cheer. They’re support of the theatre is always hugely appreciated by all the staff, who have all worked very hard to ensure the show was as successful as possible.

“The schools matinees week, which was a first for the theatre, was a particular success and we got some really good feedback from the schools on that.”

Councillor Johnson, added: “I must also thank the team of voluntary ushers without whom the show would not have been able to go on.”