A COMMUNITY theatre company is to bring back its legendary pantomime to Wrexham, after a gap of several years, with roles up for grabs.
Tip Top Productions, which has productions scheduled for Storyhouse and Theatr Clwyd this year, has announced it will be staging five performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the William Aston Hall at Wrexham University from Thursday, December 5 to Saturday, December 7, with auditions set to held this month
Most recently, the company staged its annual pantomimes at the much-missed Forum Studio Theatre in Chester (formerly The Chester Gateway Theatre) until the covid pandemic, and pending re-development forced the closure of the venue.
A Scene from Tip Top Productions pantomime Aladdin.
Recent productions have included Cats and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Theatr Clwyd in Mold, and Calendar Girls and The Sound of Music at Storyhouse in Chester. This December will see Tip Top return to its roots as it brings its pantomime back to Wrexham.
The pantomime will once again be written and directed by local panto legend Peter Swingler OBE, founder and former chair of Tip Top, who has producing the festive favourites since the 1970s.
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Peter said: "I am thrilled to return to Wrexham's William Aston Hall, where my pantomime journey began in 1973. My history with the venue includes collaborations with the Wrexham Pantomime Company and the Kathie Dougall Pantomime Company, and the establishment of the renowned Grove Park Theatre pantomime in 1981.
"The William Aston Hall also played host to Tip Top's inaugural Christmas production, Cinderella, way back in 1995. I am very much looking forward to getting started on the production, starting with auditions which will be held in June."
A scene from Tip Top Productions pantomime Cinderella.
Roles up for grabs are - Snow White, Prince RobRyan, Nurse Kitty Littler (the Dame), Queen Caroline (Snow White's nasty stepmother), Hunstman (assistant the Queen), Simon (a young, comedy role) and a loveable rabbit character, appealing especially to younger audience members. Anyone interested in auditioning for these roles should contact Peter Swingler via email at swinglerp@gmail.com. Separate auditions for children to play the Seven Dwarfs will be held in September. Auditions will be held on Thursday, June 27 at 7.15pm at Tip Top's, Park Street Studio in Wrexham.
In addition to Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Tip Top are returning to Theatr Clwyd with the classic Broadway musical Sweet Charity from June 12-15, as well as bringing back perennial favourite Bouncers, which will run at Storyhouse from August 7-10. The company will also be returning to Storyhouse again in October with Tip Top at The Musicals, a special celebration of the best of the West End and Broadway, with songs from musicals old and new.
• Full details of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sweet Charity and all other upcoming Tip Top Productions shows can be found at www.tiptopproductions.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
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