A Prestwich actor and a dedicated theatre company are taking the stage to bring the first ever pantomime to The Met.
Connor Baldwin, 22, is going back to his hometown where his career began after being cast in the lead role out of thousands of auditions in the Bury theatre's debut pantomime, a version of popular show Dick Whittington, which is inspired by the town.
Theatre company, The Big Tiny, winners of the best newcomers at the UK at The Pantomime Awards, is bringing the panto to The Met in possibly the longest run of shows the venue has ever seen.
The organisation, run by Will Cousins and Ben Richards, had more than 7,000 people audition for roles, which had to be whittled down to just seven people.
Ben, who has written and directed the Bury-inspired version of Dick Whittington, said after the firm's last show became the second most nominated in the country at the UK at The Pantomime Awards and are hoping for a similar result and to share a win with the town.
He said: “The Big Tiny workshops are in Bolton, just down the road in a big old mill, we have glittering stations, industrial sewing machines and we make everything from scratch which makes us a bit different to other companies.
“It's all made from the script so you got a really magical experience, we even have a member of staff whose job title is head of glittering which is the most panto job you can possibly have.
“This is the first time that The Met has had a panto and I think it's the longest run of a show they've ever done.
"When we approached them with the idea they were totally behind it, they're so excited and even though we had been auditioning in London and Manchester, we ended up casting a boy from Bury as the main character!”
Connor, who will be playing Dick Whittington, spoke about his acting career so far and how his teachers at school inspired him to be where he is today.
He said: “I'm only from Prestwich so being local to the theatre just gives me that extra chance to relate with the audience.
“I have been acting since I was around 11, it was the final year of primary school and I was picked to tell all our primary school stories.
"Everyone’s parents told me that I was good and then I went on to high school.
“In year seven, after the first month of doing drama, my teacher told me and my parents I need to do it as a career and that was that.”
The show will run from December 8 to 24 with some schools coming in during the weekdays and more relaxed performances being organised for those with learning difficulties.
Lennie Murphy, from Manchester, is the assistant director and will also be playing the role of the cat.
She added: “To be a part of The Met's history as the first panto is just incredible.”
Chatting with Lennie and Naomi Winter, from London, the two agreed that the show was best described as, "funny, magical and light-hearted".
Naomi said: “It’s my first time in Bury and I’m impressed, The Met looks great, it’s really cool in here and I’m so excited.”
Talking about the performance, Connor shared his excitement to tread the boards in the run up to Christmas.
He said: “You get a feeling of elation when kids and school come to watch and you can just see how excited they are.
“It is also knowing that you're a part of potentially influencing somebody else to do what you're doing that is just such an amazing thing.”
Robert Styles, from London, will perform as "the dame", Sarah the cook.
He said: “You can expect fun, frolics, fantastic costumes, good songs, singing and a really good time.
"There's a really nice feeling about being in a Christmas show.
"I love the ones just before when you can feel the change in the audience's energy and their excitment in the build-up.
"There's a feeling of elation and reward from hearing the laughter and applause but it's the camaraderie that really gets you through."
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