Let Down Your Hair Down This Christmas With Rapunzel

We’re REALLY going to let down our hair this Christmas with the welcome return of their award winning “little panto with the big heart”. Rapunzel, originally planned to be given the full Customs House Christmas make over in 2019 but due to coronavirus restrictions, was placed on hold until audiences could safely return to theatres without social distancing, will open on Wednesday 26th November 2021 and runs until Saturday 8^th January 2022.

The classic Brothers Grimm tale has been turned into an uproarious family panto by crack writing team Ray Spencer and Graeme Thompson, previously responsible for award-winning pantos including Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. Set in the magical panto land of Cooksonville with Rapunzel locked in Cleadon Tower, her evil stepmother; Goethel, telling her it’s for her own good whilst really, it’s so she can control the King. The legend of a princess in a tower with magical hair soon reaches the ears of Rumpelstiltskin, who sets about to steal Rapunzel’s hair to spin in to gold. Will the Fairy of the hills protect her? Will Much the miller’s son find her in time? Will the hysterical Dame Bella Ballcock’s new beauty salon make the cut? Will her hapless son Arbuthnot, cure his rash? All will be revealed.

This year’s cast is a sterling mix of Customs House panto favourites alongside a host of new faces who together will deliver another magical Christmas panto for young and old. The cast is Beth Clarke as Rapunzel, Ray Spencer as Dame Bella Ballcock, Davey Hopper as Arbuthnot, Steven Lee Hamilton as Much, Eleanor Chaganis as Mother Gothel, Chloe Jane Millar as Fairy, Wayne Miller as King, and William Wyn Davies as Rumplestiltskin.

The Customs House Executive Director; Ray Spencer commented: “We have waited a long time to welcome you back to Cooksonville. Let’s fill the room with love and laughter this Christmas”

You can catch the rollicking Rapunzel at The Customs House until 8^th January, 2022. Performance times vary and tickets, priced from £10.75, are available from the box office in person or on (0191) 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk.

Rapunzel is sponsored by Hays Travel, Colmans, Port of Tyne