Even the Genie of the Lamp can’t save Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at the Ipswich Regent, as theatre bosses have announced that their annual Christmas extravaganza has fallen victim to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Theatre bosses said that staging the show would have been one wish too many for the seemingly all-powerful magical spirit. A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council, who run the 1500-seat venue, said that they were devastated that this year’s show will not go on.
“We’re very sorry that we have had to postpone this year’s panto - Aladdin – for a year until 2021. Along with Enchanted Entertainment, we have made this decision because of the impact of coronavirus. We don’t yet know when social distancing and other restrictions will be removed. We have had to make the same decision as many other theatres as the panto would not be viable.”
Sarah Barber, portfolio holder for the town centre, said: “We are really sorry that we are unable to stage the pantomime this year as we realise that so many families really look forward to it and it forms an important part of Christmas.
“It’s a decision that we haven’t taken lightly but the safety of our audiences as well as the cast and crew and theatre staff must come first.”
She says that pantomime is an important time of year for all theatres and a long and successful run over Christmas pays the bills for much of the year. “While we can’t offer the Regent a blank cheque, I can say that the council is fully committed to supporting the theatre and we hope to have it re-opened as soon as possible.”
Apart from comic regular Mike McClean no other casting decisions had been made prior to lockdown coming into force in March. This would have been the tenth year that panto producers Enchanted Entertainment had staged a large-scale panto at the town centre theatre.
Ipswich Regent staff are asking audience members who have already booked tickets not to contact the theatre. From Monday September 7 box office staff will contact customers with tickets to offer them options. Customers can transfer tickets to the 2021 Easter Panto, or the 2021 Aladdin Christmas pantomime, or transfer the value of those tickets to another show. They can also get a refund.
No requests can be processed before September 7 so customers should wait for their email (or phone call) which will have full details.
Aladdin was due to open at the Ipswich Regent Theatre on Wednesday December 16 2020 and run until Saturday January 2 2021.
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