Audience numbers up for Palace panto

More than 17,000 people watched Beauty And The Beast at Newark Palace Theatre.

The attendance for the pantomime, which featured comic Bernie Clifton and soap star John Pickard, was a 12.5% improvement on last year.

Box office takings were more than £190,000.

Theatre manager, Mr David Popple, said: “The audiences have been great. At the start of every performance, the atmosphere was electric.

“The decision to put on more shows for school audiences was well made.

“They all sold well and seeing lots of excited faces trooping in and out of the theatre in the run-up to Christmas was fantastic.”

The Palace Theatre technical manager, Mr Mark Noutch, said: “Bernie was great. He never tired of coming up with new ideas and trying them out, right up to the final show.

“He was a real inspiration for all the cast — his energy and enthusiasm kept everyone on their toes.”

Theatre bosses are finalising plans for Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in December this year.

They thanked everyone who made Beauty And The Beast a success, including volunteers and local businesses and their customers on Appletongate, who were patient while coaches were managed between performances.