The show WILL go on at Milton Keynes Theatre with Claire Sweeney, Suzanne Shaw and Lee Mead set to star in socially distanced Sleeping Beauty panto

Thanks to support from The National Lottery, the new socially-distanced pantomime will run from Saturday 19 December 2020 to Sunday 10 January 2021 with tickets available from Wednesday 18 November at 10.00am.

As a thank you during what has - and continues to be - an incredibly difficult year, all tickets for the first performance of Sleeping Beauty, produced by Qdos Entertainment, will be gifted to NHS workers and their families.

Emma Sullivan, Theatre Director of Milton Keynes Theatre said today: "We are totally overjoyed to be opening our doors again for a fantastic family pantomime! With thanks to Qdos and The National Lottery we will be able to host an unforgettable festive experience with all the laughs and thrills you would expect, while making sure the theatre is absolutely safe for our audiences.

"To express our gratitude to the incredible NHS workers, we will also be inviting them and their loved ones to the first performance free of charge.

"This year, we hope to give Milton Keynes a much-needed Christmas to remember!’"

NHS workers just need to head to healthservicediscounts.com and register for the ballot.

The production is able to go ahead thanks to the support of The National Lottery, giving thousands of theatregoers in each city and across the country the chance to enjoy socially distanced pantomimes this Christmas. This initiative between The National Lottery and Qdos Entertainment is providing financial support for theatres to stage socially distanced live pantomimes making it viable for venues to open their doors to the general public, generating vital income for the theatre and helping to restore jobs whilst also providing much needed cheer.

Lee Mead makes his royal return to Milton Keynes after entertaining audiences last year as the loveable hero, Aladdin. This year, the Holby City star swaps his scrubs for something a little more regal as The Prince. Joining him will be screen and stage star Claire Sweeney in the role of the evil Carabosse, along with Hearsay’s Suzanne Shaw as The Enchantress. Starring as Princess Beauty’s hilarious best friend Muddles is comedian and magician Pete Firman. Legends of comedy, Allan Stewart and Andy Gray, will be swapping their usual pantomime home in Edinburgh for Milton Keynes as The King and Queen. Completing the all-star cast will be Will Jennings as Slimeball, and Tegan Bannister returns to Milton Keynes as Princess Beauty, following her performance last year as Princess Jasmine.

This new production will be packed full of comedy routines, audience-safe participation and all the unmissable magic that Milton Keynes Theatre audiences have come to expect from their annual festive pantomime. The previously advertised production of Jack and the Beanstalk will be staged in 2021 and existing bookers have already been contacted with details of their new tickets.

PERFORMANCES:

Sat 19 Dec 2020 – Sun 10 Jan 2021 (times vary, contact Box Office for info)

Tickets: From £13*

General bookings: 0844 871 7615*

Access bookings: 0800 912 6971

Member bookings: 0330 102 7200

Online Booking: ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes*

NHS Ballot

The ballot will be open to NHS workers from Monday 16 November – 29 November to win a maximum of six tickets per household/bubble for the first evening performance at each Ambassador Theatre Group venue. (Manchester Opera House - Saturday 12 December 2020, Bristol Hippodrome - Friday 18 December 2020, Milton Keynes Theatre – Saturday 19 December, Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent – Saturday 19 December 2020 and The Alexandra Birmingham - Friday 15 January 2021). To register for the ballot, visit healthservicediscounts.com from Monday 16 November. Winners will be notified by Monday 7 December.