Entertainer Jonathan Wilkes has promised “the best one yet” as he returns to Stoke-on-Trent to mark 20 years since his first Regent Theatre pantomime.
Jonny, who will lead the cast as Dick Whittington this Christmas, will be reunited with fellow favourites Christian Patterson as Sarah the Cook and Kai Owen playing King Rat in a production featuring “amazing” special effects and costumes and sets direct from The London Palladium.
Joining the trio on stage are Gina Murray, who has just finished a spell in Hairspray! in the West End, Samara Casteallo, who has a host of West End and theatre credits, and former Wilkes Academy student Marlee Jay Ferguson.
The cast members went on an open top bus tour of Stoke-on-Trent earlier this week to officially launch the pantomime.
They were full of excitement and banter during the press launch on the stage of The Regent which followed afterwards.
Jonny said he is more excited for this year’s show than he has ever been and summarised what to expect with the words: “chaos, funny, magical.”
Talking about the 20th anniversary, he said: “It feels like yesterday since I first did my first one, I’ve had the best time ever.
“My 20th year means the world to me. I still get emotional thinking that I have been asked to do this for 20 years. We have built the audiences so much every single year, which is amazing, and don’t get me wrong, there are the odd people who will say ‘oh Jonny Wilkes is back again’ but you could get somebody else in but I can tell you now they wouldn’t give the love and the care and the passion that I bring.
“I am very privileged and honoured to be where I describe as the greatest theatre in the world.”
The actor, musician, television presenter and theatre producer added: “We’re going to deliver you one hell of a Christmas show this year and it’s going to be the best one yet!”
Jonny, pictured above, reminisced about previous pantos in at The Regent, in Hanley, during which he can clock up 30,000 steps a show. Memories include cast members of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves getting stuck in a lift during a performance, Jonny falling off a chair and ripping his trousers during a sketch in Peter Pan and pinching chocolate from a child in the audience, which Christian then ate.
All of the team said how pleased they are to be performing in the city.
Christian Patterson, who is returning to The Regent for the first time since 2021 and took part in the press launch via video call, described the Stoke-on-Trent audiences as “the best ever”.
He said: “I just can’t wait to get back on stage. The people of Stoke know what they mean to me – and the people in the theatre itself – they mean the world to me.”
Kai, best known for roles in Torchwood and Hollyoaks, who joined the panto team nine years ago, added: “It is a joy and a treat to come back every year.”
Summarising what to expect from the show in three words, Gina said: “Fun, innocence and talent.”
Samara came up with: “Warmth, family and love.”
And Marley Jay, who was recently a lead dancer on Britian’s Got Talent, added: “Joy, fun, unexpected.”
- Dick Whittington runs at The Regent Theatre from Friday 13 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025.
