Panto is Hoff to Good Start

December 8, 2014 by Joanna Harrison

Hollywood superstar David Hasselhoff and UK favourite Christopher Biggins head-up a tremendous cast in the Cliffs Pavilion’s blockbuster pantomime Peter Pan which opens on Saturday to a tremendous reaction.

Having starred for many years in the hit TV series Baywatch The Hoff is, perhaps, more used to sun-drenched beaches and warm waves crashing on to the sand than Southend’s wintry seaside when he’s performing near the sea, but he’s certainly no stranger to the British panto tradition having appeared in this country for the past five Christmases.

David is listed within the Guinness Book of World Records as “the most watched TV star in the world”, thanks to starring roles in both Knight Rider andBaywatch and his popularity is certainly in evidence at the Cliffs Pavilion where ticket sales for Peter Pan are breaking all records.

Co-star Christopher Biggins is, of course, known to audiences for his many iconic TV, film and stage roles including Lukewarm in the hit comedy Porridge, a Transylvanian in the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the flamboyant Bobby Franklin in the recent film adaptation of Run For Your Wife. His regular TV appearances include Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, winning Celebrity Come Dine With Me and being crowned King of the Jungle on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!

With almost 40 pantomimes to his credit Biggins, as he is affectionately known, is firmly ensconced as the nation’s favourite dame, yet this is his first appearance in panto in Southend. Such is his popularity that the part of Mrs Smee has been specially written for him as the counterpoint to David Hasselhoff’s starring role of Captain “Hoff the Hook”.

As you would expect with a pantomime from the Qdos stable, the largest providers of pantomime in the country, the set is mind-blowing, the costumes beautifully extravagant and the story full of singing, dancing and loads of laughs. Of course, with it being Peter Pan, the show also features flying!

There really is something for everyone in this swashbuckling pantomime and with it only running for four weeks you really do need to hook your tickets soon or risk missing out on all the fun.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!