Est: 2016
Grand Opera House
Belfast
The Grand Opera House is a theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by the most prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham.
Panto history at Grand Opera House Belfast
1895: Blue Beard
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1980: Cinderella
1981: Jack and the Beanstalk
1982: Dick Whittington
1983: Mother Goose
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1987: Goldilocks and the three bears
1988: Cinderella
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1990: Robinson Crusoe
1991: Babes in the Wood
1992: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1993: Jack and the Beanstalk
1994: Dick Whittington
1995: Aladdin
1996: Mother Goose
1997: Jack and the Beanstalk
1998: Cinderella
1999: Peter Pan
2000: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2001: Aladdin
2002: Cinderella
2003: Dick Whittington
2004: Jack and the Beanstalk
2005: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2006: Peter Pan
2007: Cinderella
2008: Mother Goose
2009: Aladdin
2010: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2011: Jack and the Beanstalk
2012: Cinderella
2013: Sleeping Beauty
2014: Aladdin
2015: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2016: Cinderella
2017: Peter Pan
2018: Jack and the Beanstalk
2019: Beauty and the Beast
2020: NO PANTO due to Covid-19
2021: Goldilocks and the three bears
2022: Cinderella
2023: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2024: Peter Pan
1895-1980
1895: Blue Beard
Opened 23rd December 1895
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Cast
Frank Carson (as Buttons)
1980: Cinderella
Cast
Frank Carson (as Buttons), Olivia Page (as Fairy Godmother),
Lorraine Lisbon (as Prince Charming), Neil France (as Annie), Paul Harris (as Fannie),
George Carroll (as Baron Hardup), Nicola Kerr (as Cinderella), Wendy Barsley (as Dandini)
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1981: Jack and the Beanstalk
10th December 1981 - 6th February 1982
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Cast
Frank Carson (as Simple Simon), Paul Harris (as Dame Durden),
Vivienne McMaster (as Fairy Kindheart), Sian Hopkins (as Jack Durden),
Marion Geddes (as Princess Marigold), George Carroll (as Giant Blunderbore),
Patrick Scully (as Fleshcreep), Jeff Briggs (as King Satupon Semolina),
George Carroll (as Jasper Jerk)
1982: Dick Whittington
Cast
Frank Carson (as Alderman Fitzwarren), Paul Harris (as Sarah The Cook),
Rose Marie (as Dick Whittington), George Carroll (as Captain),
Cardrew Robinson (as Mate), Patrick Scully (as King Rat),
Amanda Huxley (as Tommy The Cat), Vivienna McMaster (as Fairy Bowbells),
Fiona Douglas-Stewart (as Alice Fitzwarren), Tony Holborn (as King Neptune),
Alan Morley (as Vizier), Robin Bowditch (as Sultan of Morocco),
Fiona Douglas-Stewart
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Produced by E & B Productions
Directed by Brian Hewitt-Jones
Choreography by Teri Scoble
Musical Director David Beer
1981-1983
1983: Mother Goose
Cast
Charlie Daze (as Mother Goose), Geoffrey Davies (as Billy Goose),
Gareth Marks (as Demon King), Brian Christopher (as Squire),
John Boulter (as King of Gooseland), Nicholas Bailey (as Henchman),
Deborah Thau (as Mary Mary), Amanda Huxley (as Billy's Buddy),
Paddy Glynn (as Colin), Greta Schmidt (as Fairy), Robert Bowditch (as Rocket Control)
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Produced by E & B Productions
Directed by Brian Hewitt-Jones
Choreography by Teri Scoble
Musical Director David Beer
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1987: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
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4th December 1987 - 9th January 1988
Cast
Geoffrey Hughes, James Ellis, Siobhan Redmond, Victor Spinetti, Oscar James,
David Lindsey Thomas
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1988: Cinderella
2nd December 1988 - 21st January 1989
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Cast
Jimmy Cricket (as Buttons), Katie Budd (as Cinderella), Mandy Humphrey, Dawn Bowden,
Andrew Bradley. Peter Sowerbutts, Candy Devine (as Fairy Godmother), Ward Allen,
Peter Byrne
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1990: Robinson Crusoe
Cast
Jimmy Cricket, May McFettridge, John Hewitt, John Daly
1991/92 Babes in the Wood
11th December 1991 - 25th January 1992
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Cast
Tom O'Connor, May McFettridge, Candy Devine, Josephine Mulvenna, Fred Reford,
Peter Newman, Callum Forsythe, Jonathan Kelly, Gwyn Jones, John Hewitt
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Produced by Paul Elliott
1992/93 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
19th December 1992 - 6th February 1993
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Cast
Snow White: Dana
Dame Dougut: May McFettridge
Queen Esmerelda: Sulie Branscombe
Muddles: Barnaby
Prince: Tommy O'Brien
Fairy: Jakki Denver
Jason: John Hewitt
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1987
1988
1990
1991
1993/94 Jack and the Beanstalk
14th December 1993 - 29th January 1994
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Cast
Jimmy Cricket, May McFettridge, Candy Devine, Gary Walker, Clare Hatfield,
Julie Burnage, Stephen Critchlow
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1994/95 Dick Whittington
9th December 1994 - 21st January 1995
Idle Jack: Andy Gray
Sarah The Cook: May McFettridge
King Rat: Peter Corry
Josephine Mulvenna, Vivian McMaster
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1995/96 Aladdin
8th December 1995 - 20th January 1996
Abanazar: Peter Corry
Widow Twankey: May McFettridge
Wishee Washee: Kevin Devine
Aladdin: Maggie Moone
Genie of the Ring: Anne Charleston
Princess: Kate Lonergan
The Chinese Policeman: Rod Hull & Emu
Tommy the Cat: Danny Price
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1996/97 Mother Goose
6th December 1996 - 18th January 1997
Mother Goose: May McFettridge
Demon Vanity: Julian Simmons
Briony McRoberts, Paul Hendy, Richard De Vere and Schnorbitz, Vivienne McMaster
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1997/98 Jack and the Beanstalk
5th December 1997 - 17th January 1998
Dame Trott: May McFettridge
Jack Tritt: Pollard
Fleshcreep: David Griffin
Scorpio (Gladiators), John Evans, Ivan Little, Zippy, George and Bungle
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This production ran from the
1998/99 Cinderella
4th December 1998 - 16th January 1999
Baroness Hardup: May McFettridge
The Debt Collectors: Cannon & Ball
Fairy Godmother: Pamela Ballantine
Cinderella: Michelle Potter
Buttons: Fogwell Flax
Bianca: Richard Pocock
Tiffany: William Elliott
Dandini: Matthew J Shaw
Prince Charming: John Sheridon
Postman Pat
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1999/00 Peter Pan
Nurse: May McFettridge
Captain Hook: Ray Meagher
Peter Pan: Sonia Evans
Smee: Paddy Jenkins
Kevin Finch
2000/01 Snow White
1st December 2000 - 20th January 2001
Nurse: May McFettridge as Nurse
The Wicked Queen: Britt Ekland as The Wicked Queen
Price: Robin Cousins as Prince
Muddles: Paddy Jenkins
Snow White: Karen Rush
Gary Lovini
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Produced by: Talentspot
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2001/02: Aladdin
30th November 2001 - 19th January 2002
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Widow Twankey: May McFettridge
The Genie: Lisa Riley
The Chinese Policeman: Clive Webb & Danny Adams
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Produced by: Qdos
2002/03 Cinderella
29th November 2002 - 18th January 2003
May McFettridge
Prince Charming: Scott Wright
Buttons: Richard Cadell
Sooty
Cinderella: Lucy Morgans
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Produced by: Qdos
2003/04 Dick Whittington
28th November 2003 - 17th January 2004
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Sarah the Cook: May McFettridge
'Dirty' King Rat: Leslie Grantham
Alice Fitzwarren: Emma Dodd
Tommy the Cat: Craig Turner
The Sultan of Morocco: Nigel Roche
Dick Whittington: Dan Burton
Winkle: Ian Jones
Captain Cockle: Kim Joyce
Spirit of the Bells: Aly McInnes
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainments
2004/05 Jack and the Beanstalk
Dame Trott: May McFettridge
Jack Trott: Dan Paris
William Caulfield
Paddy Jenkins
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2005/06 Snow White
3rd December 2005 - 28th January 2006
Nurse: May McFettridge
The Wicked Queen: Linda Nolan
Muddles: William Caulfield
Paddy Jenkins
The Magic Mirror: Eamonn Holmes (voice only)
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2006/07 Peter Pan
May McFettridge
Captain Hook: Jack Ellis
Peter Pan: Aston Merrygold
Smee: Paddy Jenkins
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2007/08 Cinderella (Qdos Entertainment)
Fairy Godmother: May McFettridge
Prince Charming: Patrick Harvey
Cinderella: Sinead Byrne
Aidan O'Neill
Paddy Jenkins
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
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2008/09 Mother Goose
Mother Goose: May McFettridge
Olivia Nash, Paddy Jenkins, Aidan O'Neill, Sinead Byrne
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
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2009/2010 Aladdin
28th November 2009 - 16th January 2010
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Widow Twankey: May McFettridge
Aidan O'Neill
Paddy Jenkins
Gavin Woods
Sinead Byrne
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2010/11 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4th December 2010 - 22nd January 2011
Nurse May: May McFettridge
Muddles: Aidan O'Neill
Paddy Jenkins
Snow White: Sarah O'Connor
The Wicked Queen: Lesley Joseph
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011/12 Jack and the Beanstalk
3rd December 2011 - 21st January 2012
Dame Trott: May McFettridge
Jack Trott: Aidan O'Neill
The King: Paddy Jenkins
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainments
2012/13 Cinderella
8th December 2012 - 26th January 2013
Fairy Godmother: May McFettridge
Basil Brush
Cinderella: Jayne Wisener
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainments
2013/14 Sleeping Beauty
30th November 2013 - 19th January 2014
Queen May: May McFettridge
Carabosse: Lorraine Chase
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2014/15 Aladdin
29th November 2014 - 18th January 2015
Widow Twankey: May McFettridge
Faye Tozer
Jimmy Tamley
Jayne Wisener
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2015/16 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
28th November 2015 - 10th January 2016
Nurse: May McFettridge
The Prince: Chico
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2016/17 Cinderella
3rd December 2016 - 15th Janaury 2017
The Fairy Godmother: May McFettridge
Prince Charming: Gareth Gates
Cinderella: Jayne Wisener
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
2017/18 Peter Pan (Qdos)
2nd December 2017 - 14th January 2018
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May McFettridge
Paddy Jenkins
Smee: Paul Burling
The Mermaid: Claire King
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainments
2018/19 Jack and the Beanstalk (Qdos)
1st December 2018 - 13th January 2019
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Dame Trott: May McFettridge
Rikki Jay
Paddy Jenkins
Fleshcreep: David Badella
Joanna O'Hare
Georgia Lennon
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainments
2019/20 Beauty and the Beast
30th November 2019 - 12th January 2020
May McFettridge
Ben Richards
Mandy Muden
Paddy Jenkins
Joanna O'Hare
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Produced by: Qdos Entertainment
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2021/22 Goldilocks and the Three Bears
27th November 2021 - 9th January 2022
May McFettridge
Paddy Jenkins
Adam C Booth
Anne Smith
Kia-Paris Walcott
Alfio Macaggiei
David Robert
Mary Maguire
Jo Donnelly
Kira Mcpherson
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Produced by: Crossroads Pantomimes
2022/23 Cinderella (Crossroads Pantomimes)
Fairy Godmother: May McFettridge
Buttons: Paddy Jenkins
Dandini: Adam C Booth
Cinderella: Kia-Paris Walcott
Prince Charming: Conor Headley
Jo Donnelly
Gyasi Sheppy
Jolene O'Hara
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Produced by: Crossroads Productions
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2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
2023
2023/24 Cinderella
2nd December 2023 - 14th January 2024
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May of the Mirror: May McFettridge
Muddles: Phil Walker
The Wicked Queens Henchman:Paddy Jenkins
The Queens Guards: Flawless
The Wicked Queen: Jolene O’Hara
The Prince: Conor Headley
Snow White: Aisling Sharkey
Scott White leads The Magnificent Seven
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Produced by: Crossroads Productions
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2024
2024/25: PETER PAN
30th November 2024 - 12th January 2025
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May McFettridge
Paddy Jenkins
Adam C Booth
Jolene O'Hara,
Aisling Sharkey
Jordan Walker
Georgia Brierley-Smith
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Produced by: Crossroads Productions
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2025
2025/26: PINOCCHIO
29th November 2025 - 11th January 2026
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Mrs Geppetto: May McFettridge
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Produced by: Crossroads Productions
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Video tour of the Grand Opera House with a wonderful panto song by panto music legend Gary Hind to accompany it!
Programmes
1980
1981
1982
1983
1998
2003
