Dane Bowers & Claire Simmo to star in the Epstein’s Christmas Panto

Yes we are talking Christmas already but this news is just too good not to share! Our very own Claire Simmo is set to star in this year’s Epstein panto alongside a pop legend.

Prepare to be blown Out of Your Mind as LHK Productions is delighted to announce the cast for their 2017 festive panto Peter Pan, coming to The Epstein Theatre this Christmas from Fri 8 December 2017 until Mon 1 January 2018!

Claire Simmo

90’s boyband star Dane Bowers will be starring as Peter Pan’s arch nemesis Captain Hook, 2016 Britain’s Got Talent contestant Lewis Pryor will be flying across the stage as the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan and Radio City’s Claire Simmo will be adding lots of glitz and sparkle as Tinkerbell.

Dane Bowers will have audiences hooked when he sails into Liverpool to star in LHK Productions’ sensational panto extravaganza. He began his career as part of the British boy band Another Level, one of the most successful boy bands of the 90’s, achieving several platinum selling albums and singles including the iconic Freak Me.

Following the bands split in 2000, he went on to score two UK top ten singles as a solo artist with Buggin and Out Of Your Mind, the latter a duet featuring Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, before establishing himself as a DJ in both the UK and abroad!

He has also remained a household name with appearances on the small screen including Celebrity Big Brother, where he finished runner up, demonstrating his culinary skills winning Celebrity Come Dine With Me, and ITV’s The Big Reunion which saw him form a supergroup boy band with the likes of Gareth Gates.

Dane Bowers said: “I can’t wait to be the bad guy playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool this Christmas! Bring on the boos!”

 Storming on to the Epstein stage as Peter Pan is Liverpool’s own Lewis Pryor, who took part in 2016’s series of Britain’s Got Talent, finishing 3^rd place in the Live Finals as a member of dance troupe Boogie Storm after receiving the coveted Golden Buzzer spot from Simon Cowell.

Lewis Pryor

No stranger to the Liverpool stage, Lewis is currently training at Jelli Studios and has previously studied at Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre and the Jennifer Ellison Fame Academy. He has appeared in countless productions including LHK’s 2016 panto Aladdin as Wishy Washy.

Also treading the boards at The Epstein this year will be one of Liverpool’s favourite radio hosts – voice of the airwaves, Radio City’s Claire Simmo will be sprinkling lashings of fairy dust and sending audiences on a high-flying adventure as Tinkerbell.

Returning with hilarious antics aplenty, everyone’s favourite dame Michael Chapman will bring his hysterical capers as theDarling Family Cook. Audiences should be on their best behaviour or he may just make them walk the plank!

Michael Chapman is back

LHK Productions Managing Director Lee Kelly added: “We have a really strong cast this year. I am really excited to announce Dane who will be playing the villainous Captain Hook. I’ve followed his career since his Another Level days and have always been a big fan, he will be a great addition to the cast for 2017!

“It is always a delight working with Claire Simmo, everyone in Liverpool loves her and she is a panto pro! It will be a pleasure to welcome Lewis Pryor back this year, he took the nation by storm during his performances on Britain’s Got Talent and he was fantastic as Wishy Washy in last year’s production.  I have no doubt he will bring the same energy to the role of Peter Pan. And of course, it wouldn’t be an LHK production without the wonderful Michael Chapman as the Dame.

“We still have lots up our sleeve for this year’s production and as always we will be working hard to make the show bigger and better than ever.”

Watch as Claire Simmo hosts Disney Magic on the Mersey for The Guide Liverpool.

Children and adults alike, get set to go on a sensational journey to Neverland. With a sprinkle of fairy dust from Tinkerbell join Peter, Wendy and The Lost Boys on an adventure full of Pirates, Mermaids, Indians and a devious tick-tocking croc, in this enchanting story of the boy who never grew up. 

As ever expect a huge production from LHK Productions with dazzling sets, sparkling costumes, laugh-a-minute scripts, brilliant songs and exquisite trade-mark choreography that everyone has come to know and love from Liverpool’s acclaimed panto production company!

Look out for further casting announcements in the coming weeks with the complete all-star line-up.

Be sure to join LHK Productions and The Epstein Theatre this Christmas for Liverpool’s best value panto, with tickets starting from just £11.

Epstein Theatre

PANTO LISTING:

Peter Pan

Date: Friday 8^th December 2017 – Monday 1^st January 2018

Times: Vary

Tickets: Opening Night Ticket Offer: Fri 8^th Dec All Tickets £13

  SPECIAL OFFER: Tue 26 Dec, 5pm & Sun 31 Dec, 5:30pm – All Tickets £15

Sat and Sun performances and Mon 1 Jan (except Sun 31 Dec, 5:30pm performance):

Adult £19/ Concession £17/ Family £63

All other performances: Adult £18/ Concession £16/ Family £59

Limited number of £11 tickets available on all performances (except Fri 8 Dec 7pm, Tue 26 Dec 5pm and Sun 31 Dec 5:30pm)