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For the 2017/18 season PHA presented nine pantomimes, five Christmas themed Santa shows at venues nationwide and staged its first international show with Aladdin in the UAE. Stars from all sides of the dazzling disco ball of showbiz life gave traditional tales the magic and wow factor of pantomime.

The season saw Paul Holman Associates present pantomime for the first time at the Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes with Dick Whittington and stage festive spectacular Santa Claus shows for those both young and young at heart at Watford Colosseum, Epsom Playhouse, Guildford’s G Live, Swindon Arts Centre and Catford Broadway.

Casts around the country were led by stars including Dave Myers, Ann Widdecombe, Chesney Hawkes, Sam Attwater, Kelli Young, Mark Read, Jai McDowall, Dave Benson Phillips, Nicole Faraday, Anna Williamson and Swashbuckle stars Richard David Caine and Joseph Elliott. Joining the line-up stars from the West End including Niki Evans and Cassie Compton hit the right note with powerhouse vocal performances on the pantomime stage.

With the view that comedy lies at the heart of any great pantomime, PHA invited audience favourite comics to tread the boards once more at venues around the country. Terry Gleed made it a hat trick in his third season at Lowestoft’s Marina Theatre while  Neil Wheatley returned to Redhill Harlequin for a sixth year and Jez Edwards celebrated his ninth panto season at Leeds’ Carriageworks Theatre.

Throughout 2017 PHA continued to work with leading directors, choreographers and musical directors and experts in the field of pantomime to create thoroughly modern productions that retained the much loved slapstick, comedy, music, dance and storytelling of traditional pantomime.

PHA continued to work with creative teams to give all shows strong production values and dazzling sets and costumes that gave all audiences wow factor.  The season  in particular saw PHA grow its own extensive wardrobe with new custom made costumes for shows nationwide bringing the collection to over 4,000 costumes.

Pantomime Producer Paul Holman said: “It has been a terrific season entertaining hundreds of thousands of people with classic pantomime titles. Our success is as always shared with the performers, venues and creative teams we work with to create magical and memorable pantomime for all audiences. Special thanks must also be extended to all my team at PHA who work throughout the year to make what we do possible. It has been remarkable to see the warm reception that greets our casts in local communities and to achieve record audience attendances at many venues. It is truly a joy to see the great British tradition of pantomime continuing to thrive in 2018”

 For full details on all PHA activity and upcoming shows please visit www.paulholmanassociates.com or follow @PHApantos on Facebook and Twitter.