The Saddleworth Panto is just perfect

For the past seven years, professional theatre company The Big Tiny have been making a West End quality pantomime at the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph.

The Saddleworth Panto is perfect for families - and it's back again this year.

In the last three years, The Big Tiny have been nominated for Best Script, Best Direction and Best Pantomime at the UK Pantomime Awards, as well as winning Best Newcomer.

“We don’t do celebs or gimmicks,” said producer Will Cousins.  

“We make traditional, laugh out loud panto, really well… and we make it with a lot of love.”

The Millgate Arts Centre might only seat 160 people, but everything about it, from the glitzy crystal chandeliers to the recently refurbed piano bar, is absolutely gorgeous.  

“It’s a fantastic venue for a panto,” added theatre manager Ian Shepherd.  

“The audience are so close to the actors, you feel like you are right in the middle of the action.”

All the sets and costumes are made at The Big Tiny workshops in Greater Manchester.  

“The show may be on a small stage, but the production values are enormous,” added Will.  

Whether it’s a 17 foot tall giant for Jack and the Beanstalk or a real flying carpet for Aladdin, the Saddleworth show delivers all the same wow factors as the big city shows, but in a venue where the audience are only feet away from the action.  

Last year, one audience member said: ““The atmosphere is electric,” - no wonder several papers have already named it “The best little panto in the country”.

Audiences going to see this year’s Rumpelstiltskin will recognise some familiar faces, including Tessa Vale from Horrible Histories and About A Boy alongside Saddleworth’s favourite Dame Dominic McChesney as Winnie the Warden.

Will added: “We’re lucky, because we make professional theatre all year round, we have some amazing contacts.

"Plus, everyone loves playing Saddleworth so much, they book out Christmas before they take any other work!  

"This year, we’ve got the incredible Swedish musical theatre performer Kevin Mornas coming up to play the Prince and Michael Pellman (last year’s Aladdin) has come ashore from headlining a cruise ship show just to so he can be back in Saddleworth for Christmas.”

“We just love Saddleworth,” said director Ben Richards.  

“The venue is amazing, and the audience are so up for it!  

"Every year we make the show bigger, spanglier and more preposterous and every year we have to put on more shows to meet demand.  

"It’s a show with a lot of heart, made for people that love to laugh and be entertained.”

Rumpelstiltskin is playing at the Millgate Arts Centre from December 9-31.  

Tickets are priced from £14.

You can book by clicking this link, or calling the box office number - 01457 874 644.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.