Panto sales in Bognor are through the roof

After years without a panto, Bognor is flocking to the festive entertainment at the Regis Centre, now in its third year back. Regis Centre manager Adam Cunard is delighted at the box office response.

And while everyone else is looking at tightening their belts for 2009, Adam says he's looking at putting in an extra week of panto next year.

With a couple of weeks still to go, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, which runs until January 3, has already taken as much money as it did in its entire run last year.

"We are about 15 per cent up. We are playing to in-the 90s per cent this year. We are looking at doing an extra week next year, going from three weeks to four."

Panto returned two years ago to the venue and is now looking firmly established, based on a good clean fun formula.

"This production is very much a family production. There is nothing crude or smutty. I hold it in high esteem that it should be right for absolutely all ages."

And the message is spreading. Last year Bognor panto played to five school groups.

This year it is playing to 19, stretching out to include Arundel, Slindon and Littlehampton. And just to cap the success of the first three years, Adam has now signed a further three-year deal with panto producers Spillers Pantomimes Ltd.

Next year the show will be Peter Pan, and already 5,000 worth of tickets have been sold.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP