Three popular Deco Panto regulars are returning to Northampton for another Christmas spectacular – and are all determined to spread some ‘extra special’ Christmas cheer to audiences this December.
Colin Ridgewell, who first made his name in the classic BBC children’s series ‘Grange Hill’, actor and entertainer Chris Wills, and singer-actor Lydia Lucy have all thrilled audiences in Deco Christmas Pantos over the past five years, and are all delighted to be heading back to appear in Sleeping Beauty at what all three call their favourite venue.
Said Colin, who has established his popularity with his performances as a Panto Dame: “Under all the circumstances, it’s brilliant that the Deco team are putting on their annual Christmas Panto, and I am determined to make ‘Sleeping Beauty’ as much a great night out for our audiences as all the others I’ve appeared in.
“I absolutely love The Deco, as I so the people of Northampton and all around the county, who make performing there in Panto such an enormous pleasure each year, and after the year so many have endured, the least I can do is help spread some extra special Christmas cheer.”
Lydia first appeared at The Deco four years ago, and captivated everyone with her fantastic singing voice. Indeed, weeks later, the whole nation was likewise, as she made it all the way through to the final of ITV’s The Voice. She returned to The Deco two years ago, and is delighted to be back.
“Life is never boring these days, and I’ve been very busy,” she said. “Lockdown was weird, but since we emerged from that I’ve rarely had a dull moment, and doing Panto again is a lovely way to round off the year – I love Christmas, and what would it be without Panto!
“As Colin says, we’re all in need of some Christmas cheer; mine will be appearing in another Deco Panto, and I hope that we as a cast, and a production team, can spread lots of goodwill, laughter and happiness throughout our audiences during the performances of ‘Sleeping Beauty’.”
Said Chris: “The Deco is an awesome theatre, and every year we have fantastic audiences, and it is a pleasure to be back in Northampton again – I love the place. Full credit to the management for working so hard to make The Deco a totally safe environment, and giving people something to look forward to this Christmas, and I can’t wait to be back on stage there.”