Dame Ian Adams set to join Panto Parade in Westminster

Ian is Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's resident pantomime dame and will proudly join all other dames and theatre professionals for a socially distanced march that will start at Cambridge Circus and end in Parliament Square.

The march has been organised to highlight the impact that the loss of panto will have on live theatre.

Wolverhampton Grand's 2020 pantomime, along with many others across the nation, has been postponed until next Christmas due to rising coronavirus cases. Theatres have still not been able to open again to audiences because of the pandemic.

Ian Adams has played dame for more than 25 years and has been in The Grand’s panto for the last four. He writes and directs the sell-out Intro To Pantomime taken into local schools. He is also the co-presenter of The Grand’s Memory Café, which performs to over 200 patrons per month who are living with dementia.

Ian said: "When I was asked to take part in The Panto Parade, I immediately accepted. I feel very strongly that we need to highlight how many people will be affected by the loss of pantomime. The dame is a staple and much-loved role and it is only fitting that we should march together, united, fighting for our industry.”

Vicky Price, associate director of development and communications at the Grand said: "It was a very difficult, yet inevitable decision to postpone this year’s pantomime. It leaves a massive gap in the theatrical calendar for annual pantomime attendees and the loss of revenue for the theatre. However, we are delighted that we have retained over 70 per cent of this year’s bookings for our postponed production of Cinderella, which proves how important this wonderful art form is.”

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s postponed production of Cinderella will open on Saturday December 6 2021.

For tickets please visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk