Andy Collins: A big THANK YOU to everyone who came to Waterside Theatre pantomime

So after a mere ten days of rehearsals, and then for 52 shows, two shows a day getting soaked by 100s of water pistols daily and doing what we do and love so much in front of packed audiences , (over 50,000 of you came to see us) panto is over for another year!

I really can’t put into words how much the cast and I enjoyed it this year, I’ve been very lucky to have been involved in the panto at the Waterside for over eight years now, and this year is definitely going down as one of my favourites, not just because I got to work on a fabulous show with a brilliant script, and work alongside an incredibly talented cast, but mainly because of you lot - the audience, your energy, love, support and your willingness to embrace all that panto is about was just out of this world!

Let me tell you a little secret... On day one of rehearsals the three of us Chris Nelson (the director here for five years now )

La Voix (my Panto mum /comedy partner ) and I do a little welcome speech to the rest of the cast before we begin rehearsals for the day.

Chris starts by laying out his vision for the show, he then closes with what you, the audience, expect to see from us.

Then La Voix and I try and tell them how brilliant you lot are, how you really engage with shows, how you have taken 12 days of Christmas to another level, and that you will cheer, laugh and shout louder than anywhere else the cast may been over the years.

Let me tell you at the point the cast look at us and go ‘oh yeah really ? They can’t be that crazy and up for it?!’

And we go ‘just wait and see!’ And from show one to show 52 you didn’t disappoint!

I will always remember Danny Walters (he played the beast) coming up to me after the curtain had come down on show one and him going ‘bloody hell that audience was amazing and it’s like that every show?’

I must also mention at this point and thank a few people.

First up the producer Martin Dodd and his production company UK Productions.

When Chris, La Voix and I meet up with Martin in July and run through the ideas, we would like to add most producers are, shall we say, not very forthcoming with spending more money on routines props etc and certainly would be very aghast about changing the script.

Martin couldn’t be more different. He gets it and understands what we are trying to achieve here at the Waterside he just starts the meeting with the answers, yes and how much is this going to cost me?!

The front stage cloth drop during 12 days was my favourite thing ever!

La Voix and I could hear your gasps of shock and worry while we where under the cloth and so many people have and still come up to me and say was that meant to happen?!The team at Waterside Theatre are just the best, be it the front of house team, backstage crew, Polly on stage door, Lee the general manager, Ali press officer or Anne in catering (the meatball baguette was my favourite ).

Amazing people one and all and I love them dearly. Almost as much as I love you!

Once again thanks for being such an amazing audience, can’t wait to see you all again this year for when we do Cinderella.

Big hugs, Andy xxxx

Andy Collins: A huge thank you to everyone who came to the Waterside Theatre pantomime!

Thank you, thank you, thank you and once again thank you!