Pantomime Beauty and the Beast more than lived up to expectations; ticket sales broke previous records and lots of customers came back for a second time.
The theatre delivered a cracking panto and what really stood out was the overwhelming number of positive comments from audience members.
Feedback included:
- “We visited with our three-year-old. It was the best show we’ve seen so far! Loved every second.”
- “Six of my family members, aged five to their 70s, came to see the show. Brilliant! We all loved it.”
- “Me and my son attended. Got to say it was amazing!”
- “Watched with my grandson. Absolutely brilliant!”
- “Visited the pantomine as a party of 11, aged three to 60. Beauty and the Beast was truly wonderful. What a great cast – you should all be very proud of the show.”
Pantomime has always been popular with Swansea audiences and the Grand is synonymous with this quintessential seasonal offering.
Over the years many a celebrity has trod the boards as villain, dame, prince or princess, including Ryan Davies, Wayne Fontana, John Challis, Lisa Riley, Jimmy Osmond and Gillian Taylforth. This season Joe McFadden headlined the cast.
Grand manager Grant McFarlane said: “This has been a fantastic result for the theatre.
“Box office has broken previous records and the advance sales for our next panto, Cinderella, have exceeded our expectations.
“Notably this year, the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive and we have seen large numbers of returning customers watching the show twice or more. It’s really encouraging that the popularity of panto continues to grow.”
Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “Beauty and the Beast – with its incredible cast, brilliant theatre team and amazing audiences – shows that theatre is thriving in Swansea.
“The city has a rich and diverse range of cultural experiences and the Grand continues to be a key part of that.”
The theatre is already gearing up for the next panto, Cinderella, which promises to be the belle of the ball with a dazzling digital set and all the hilarity that audiences have come to expect.
Bookings: www.swanseagrand.co.uk
