Est: 2016
Grand Opera House
Belfast
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
1895: Blue Beard
Opened 23rd December 1895
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)
1981: Jack and the Beanstalk
10th December 1981 - 6th February 1982
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
Produced by E & B Productions
Directed by Brian Hewitt-Jones
Choreography by Teri Scoble
Musical Director David Beer
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)
Produced by E & B Productions
Directed by Brian Hewitt-Jones
Choreography by Teri Scoble
Musical Director David Beer
1987: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
4th December 1987 - 9th January 1988
Cast
Geoffrey Hughes, James Ellis, Siobhan Redmond, Victor Spinetti, Oscar James,
David Lindsey Thomas
1988: Cinderella
2nd December 1988 - 21st January 1989
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
1990: Robinson Crusoe
Cast
Jimmy Cricket, May McFettridge, John Hewitt, John Daly
1991/92 Babes in the Wood
11th December 1991 - 25th January 1992
Cast
Tom O'Connor, May McFettridge, Candy Devine, Josephine Mulvenna, Fred Reford,
Peter Newman, Callum Forsythe, Jonathan Kelly, Gwyn Jones, John Hewitt
Produced by Paul Elliott
1992/93 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Dana as Snow White
May McFettridge as Dame Dougnut
Sulie Branscombe as Queen Esmerelda
Barnaby as Muddles
Tommy O'Brien as Prince
Jakki Denver as Fairy
John Hewitt as Jason
This production ran from 19th December 1992 - 6th February 1993
1993/94 Jack and the Beanstalk
Jimmy Cricket
May McFettridge
Candy Devine
Gary Walker
Clare Hatfield
Julie Burnage
Stephen Critchlow
This production ran from 14th December 1993 - 29th January 1994
1994/95 Dick Whittington
Andy Gray as Idle Jack
May McFettridge as Sarah The Cook
Peter Corry as King Rat
Josephine Mulvenna
Vivian McMaster
This production ran from 9th December 1994 - 21st January 1995
1995/96 Aladdin
Peter Corry as Abanazar
May McFettridge as Widow Twankey
Kevin Devine as Wishee Washee
Maggie Moone as Aladdin
Anne Charleston as Genie of the Ring
Kate Lonergan as Princess
Rod Hull & Emu as The Chinese Policeman
Danny Price as Tommy the Cat
This production ran from 8th December 1995 - 20th January 1996
1996/97 Mother Goose
May McFettridge as Mother Goose
Briony McRoberts
Paul Hendy
Julian Simmons as Demon Vanity
Richard De Vere
Vivienne McMaster
This production ran from 6th December 1996 - 18th January 1997
1997/98 Jack and the Beanstalk
May McFettridge as Dame Trott
Su Pollard as Jack Tritt
David Griffin as Fleshcreep
Scorpio (Gladiators)
John Evans
Ivan Little
Zippy, George and Bungle
This production ran from the 5th December 1997 - 17th January 1998
1998/99 Cinderella
May McFettridge as Baroness Hardup
Cannon & Ball as The Debt Collectors
Pamela Ballantine as Fairy Godmother
Michelle Potter as Cinderella
Fogwell Flax as Buttons
Richard Pocock as Bianca
William Elliott as Tiffany
Matthew J Shaw as Dandini
John Sheridon as Prince Charming
Postman Pat
This production ran from 4th December 1998 - 16th January 1999
1999/00 Peter Pan
May McFettridge
Ray Meagher as Captain Hook
Sonia Evans as Peter Pan
Paddy Jenkins as Smee
Kevin Finch
2000/01 Snow White (A Talentspot pantomime)
May McFettridge as Nurse
Britt Ekland as The Wicked Queen
Robin Cousins as Prince
Gary Lovini
Paddy Jenkins as Muddles
Karen Rush as Snow White
This production ran from 1st December 2000 - 20th January 2001
2001/02 Aladdin (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Widow Twankey
Lisa Riley as The Genie
Clive Webb & Danny Adams as The Chinese Policeman
This production ran from 30th November 2001 - 19th January 2002
2002/03 Cinderella (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge
Scott Wright as Prince Charming
Richard Cadell as Buttons
Sooty
Lucy Morgans as Cinderella
This production ran from 29th November 2002 - 18th January 2003
2003/04 Dick Whittington (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Sarah the Cook
Leslie Grantham as 'Dirty' King Rat
Emma Dodd as Alice Fitzwarren
Craig Turner as Tommy the Cat
Nigel Roche as The Sultan of Morocco
Dan Burton as Dick Whittington
Ian Jones as Winkle
Kim Joyce as Captain Cockle
Aly McInnes as Spirit of the Bells
This production ran from 28th November 2003 - 17th January 2004
2004/05 Jack and the Beanstalk (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Dam eTrott
Dan Paris as Jack Trott
William Caulfield
Paddy Jenkins
2005/06 Snow White (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Nurse
Linda Nolan as The Wicked Queen
William Caulfield as Muddles
Paddy Jenkins
Eamonn Holmes (voice only) as The Magic Mirror
2006/07 Peter Pan (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge
Jack Ellis as Captain Hook
Aston Merrygold as Peter Pan
Paddy Jenkins as Smee
2007/08 Cinderella (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Fairy Godmother
Patrick Harvey as Prince Charming
Aidan O'Neill
Paddy Jenkins
Sinead Byrne as Cinderella
2008/09 Mother Goose (Qdos Entertainment)
May McFettridge as Mother Goose
Olivia Nash
Paddy Jenkins
Aidan O'Neill
Sinead Byrne
2009/2010 Aladdin (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Widow Twankey
Aidan O'Neill
Paddy Jenkins
Gavin Woods
Sinead Byrne
2010/11 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Nurse May
Aidan O'Neill as Muddles
Paddy Jenkins
Sarah O'Connor as Snow White
Lesley Joseph as The Wicked Queen
2011/12 Jack and the Beanstalk (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Dame Trott
Aidan O'Neill as Jack Trott
Paddy Jenkins as The King
2012/13 Cinderella (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Fairy Godmother
Basil Brush
Jayne Wisener as Cinderella
This production from 8th December 2012 - 26th January 2013
2013/14 Sleeping Beauty (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Queen May
Lorraine Chase as Carabosse
This production ran from 30th November 2013 - 19th January 2014
2014/15 Aladdin (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Widow Twankey
Faye Tozer
Jimmy Tamley
Jayne Wisener
2015/16 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Nurse
Chico as The Prince
2016/17 Cinderella (Qdos)
May McFettridge as The Fairy Godmother
Gareth Gates as Prince Charming
Jayne Wisener as Cinderella
2017/18 Peter Pan (Qdos)
May McFettridge
Paddy Jenkins
Paul Burling as Smee
Claire King as The Mermaid
2018/19 Jack and the Beanstalk (Qdos)
May McFettridge as Dame Trott
Rikki Jay
Paddy Jenkins
David Badella as Fleshcreep
Joanna O'Hare
Georgia Lennon
2019/20 Beauty and the Beast (Qdos)
May McFettridge
Ben Richards
Mandy Muden
Paddy Jenkins
Joanna O'Hare
2020/21 No pantomime
2021/22 Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Crossroads Pantomimes)
May McFettridge
Paddy Jenkins
Adam C Booth
Anne Smith
Kia-Paris Walcott
Alfio Macaggiei
David Robert
Mary Maguire
Jo Donnelly
Kira Mcpherson
2022/23 Cinderella (Crossroads Pantomimes)
May McFettridge as Fairy Godmother
Paddy Jenkins as Buttons
Adam C Booth as Dandini
Kia-Paris Walcott as Cinderella
Jo Donnelly
Gyasi Sheppy
Jolene O'Hara
Conor Headley as Prince Charming
2022/23 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Crossroads Pantomimes)
May McFettridge
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
