Eastenders Actor To Feature in Christmas Panto


Shane Ritchie joins the cast in the New Wimbledon Theatre production

Cast gets ready for this year's panto
Cast gets ready for this year's panto

October 25, 2021

Shane Richie is taking the title role of Dick Whittington in this year's pantomime at New Wimbledon Theatre.

He will play the hero who seeks fame, fortune and happiness journeying to become the Lord Mayor of London.

Guided by the magical Fairy Bow Bells on an adventure that sends him from London town to the High Seas headed for Morocco an action-packed pantomime full of laughter, music and dance is promised. Can he outwit the evil rodent King Rat, free London from his team of revolting rodents and win the beautiful Alice's hand in marriage?

Shane said, 'I am really looking forward to this pantomime season at the New Wimbledon Theatre, as we have the huge production and spectacular "Dick Whittington". Not only is it beautiful... Not only is magical... Not only is spectacular... It's fun for all the family!! See you there!'

Shane Richie has been a regular fixture on prime-time television and known for creating the role of the Alfie Moon in BBC One's 'EastEnders' which he starred in for a number of years. Shane has had a long television career and has appeared many other series including 'New Tricks' (BBC), 'Skins' (Channel 4), 'Moving On' (BBC), 'Minder' (Channel 5) and 'Benidorm' (ITV). Shane also has a host of theatre credits to his name including the London West End and Manchester production of Grease' and the roles of 'Hugo' and 'Loco Chanelle' in 'Everybody's Talking about Jamie' in the West End and on UK tour. Shane is currently starring in the production on tour across the UK which will extend in to 2022.

Joining Shane this Christmas is Peter Piper as 'Captain Cockles', Hiba Elchikhe as 'Alice Fitzwarren', lain Stuart Robertson as the 'Sarah The Cook' and Briana Craig as 'Kitty Cat'.

In the 1980s Peter Piper co-starred in ITV's '5 Alive' series and then went on to star in US television shows. He then became a voiceover artist for Disney, Warner Bros. and Paramount films. His UK television credits include BBC's 'Holby City' and 'Hotel Babylon'. His performance of 'Spencer Gabrielle' in the original musical 'Boogie Nights' was critically acclaimed in the West End. In 2017 Peter appeared in the new Jimmy McGovern series 'Broken' for BBC1 & appeared as Tom Ridley in 'Coronation Street' for ITV. This year he's paired up with Shane in a new TV series 'Caravanning with Shane Richie' for Channel 5.

Hiba Elchikhe will play the role of 'Alice Fitzwarren'. Hiba most recently played the role of 'Pritti Pasha' in 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' in London's West End. Her other theatre credits include 'Fiver' at the Southwark Playhouse, 'Aladdin', Australian Tour, 'Ghost the Musical', Asian Tour. When theatres were shut down, Hiba produced 'Into the Spotlight', a three-part concert web series at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

lain Stuart Robertson has performed in theatres the length and breadth of Great Britain, clocking up over a hundred productions in the process. He has appeared in thirty Christmas shows and has worked with such luminaries as Julian Clary, Joe Pasquale, The Krankies, Christopher Biggins, Matthew Kelly, Russ Abbott, Gregor Fisher, Stefanie Powers, Marti Pellow and Brain Blessed.

Briana Craig trained at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2020. Briana is currently making her professional debut as in 'Singin' in the ' (Sadler's Wells/Japan/National Tour) directed by Jonathan Church.

The production runs from 4 December 2021 to 2 January 2022 with tickets starting from just £13 plus booking fee. They can be booked by clicking here.

 

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