Oh yes it is! Curtains set to rise for Exeter’s Christmas Panto 

Exeter’s Corn Exchange is preparing to lift its curtains for the first time since March as it welcomes audiences to its latest Christmas panto, The Wizard of Oz.  

Now in its 11th year, the Christmas pantomime at the Corn Exchange will be the only panto running this holiday season in Exeter, and one of the only in the whole south west region.  

The Wizard of Oz will draw together talented artists from London’s West End. Leading the cast will be Daniel Page, who has worked for the RSC and was an original cast member of the West End’s Billy Elliot.  The Wizard will be played by Daniele Coombe who has starred in West End shows such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Acorn Antiques alongside Victoria Wood, and The Sound of Music with Connie Fisher. The main cast will be accompanied by the youth chorus which is made up of talented young adults and from the local community.  

Ian Trafford, Director of the Exeter Panto, who has been working tirelessly to get the show on the road, says: “The journey to get the panto to the stage this Christmas has been a rollercoaster, but we are over the moon to say that the show can go on. 2020 has been a hard year for so many of us in so many ways, but we are delighted that we are able to bring music, dance, fun, drama and laughter back to Exeter. As one of the only pantomimes running in the whole of the South West this season, audiences are in for a treat.  

“For theatres to reopen safely the Covid guidelines have been very thorough. As a result, there will be a variety of measures in place, such as socially distanced seating and a one-way system through the auditorium. Theatres take care of audiences, cast and crew every day of every year, and we're taking the necessary precautions to carry on doing just that! However, audiences can still expect the same high energy performance with the usual cheering, hissing, booing, spectacular sets and costumes.” 

The Wizard of Oz runs at the Exeter Corn Exchange from 19thDecember 2020 to 3rd January 2021. For more information and to book tickets please visit: www.exetercornexchange.co.uk/whats-on/wizard-of-oz/