Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been amongst the many people who have so far enjoyed Beauty and the Beast.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been amongst the many people who have so far enjoyed Beauty and the Beast.
He wrote about his trip to the Theatre as part of his regular column in the Christmas Eve edition of the Darlington & Stockton Times.
"A highlight of the Sunak family Christmas is the trip to The Georgian Theatre Royal panto in Richmond.
We went two weeks ago and it was great to see it again after the cancellation of last year's production.
I can tell you that Beauty and the Beast is as good as any other panto we have seen at the Georgian. A new dame - Nick O'Connor - does a great job filling the shoes of long-time favourite Gary Bridgens and there are plenty of jokes at my expense.
My Budget Red Box makes an appearance as the container for the famous Tunnock's tea cakes.
Regulars at the Georgian panto will know that liberal distribution of Tunnock's tea cakes to the audience has become something of a Richmond tradition.
It dates from 2014 when they first appeared in Puss in Boots because it was felt they fitted the vintage feel of the production.
Now it is hard to conceive of a Georgian Theatre Royal panto without them and every year the Glasgow baker that has made the tea cakes since 1956 puts on a special delivery to the theatre.
I can thoroughly recommend Beauty and the Beast, which runs at the Georgian Theatre Royal until January 9. There are tickets still left I am told."