Pantomime will go on, Oh yes it will!

Dick Whittington - A musical pantomime for all the family

The company behind Middleton Arena’s Christmas pantomime has pulled out of the show.

It's Behind You Productions were booked to stage Dick Whittington from November 24 to December 31 at Middleton Arena over Christmas.

They told Link4Life they were pulling out due to the financial position of the company.

But the pantomime will go on; Dick Whittington will now be produced by Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) productions from today, 3 December until 24 December.

The new production will star Coronation Street, Cold Feet and the Fast Show's John Thomson, OFFIE nominated Eastender's Mark Homer, Brookside's Stephen Donald and Manchester's very own Dame Keith De'Winter as Sally the Cook.

Link4Life said: “The show is still Dick Whittington and yes we are working now with a different company than last year. We are now on with helping to promote the show – which opened today”

George Critchley, Producer and Artistic Director said: "It's been exhilarating and exciting in the same breath and an amazing opportunity for us, at PMA Productions Ltd - we have assembled a first rate cast starring John Thomson, Mark Homer, Stephen Donald and Blakeley's Keith De' Winter plus a supporting professional cast and The Janice Hughes Dance School (Hyde) - our aim was to salvage the situation in nine days and we have achieved that and more, with a cracking show for all the family opening today until 24 December."

PMA are already producing pantomimes at nine venues across the UK this Christmas.

A spokesperson for the Arena said all bookings already made will be honoured, although some performance dates will need to be rescheduled because of the shorter run.

Rochdale Online has been unable to contact Its Behind You Productions for a comment.

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