Panto struggles to sell tickets at the Citadel

Dec 18 2009 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

OH yes it is – a major flop.

The plan to stage pantos in Ayr’s Citadel sports hall has fallen flat.

Audiences treated to a century-long diet of Gaiety Theatre productions have turned their back on this year’s offering.

And crowds are hitting the road in their droves for rival shows.

Kilmarnock’s Palace Theatre has sold more than double the number of tickets for their festive panto.

Red-faced South Ayrshire Council have already cancelled one show due to poor sales when only 40 tickets were sold.

Sources say the panto was doomed to failure after a lack of advertising and switch of venue.

And critics say the council is paying for their decision to close the historic Gaiety.

Bernard Cotton, Gaiety manager for 19 years, confessed: “You never cancel a show, no matter how many tickets have been sold.

“The whole tradition of theatre is that the show must go on.

“I applaud them for trying at the Citadel but it’s a multi-purpose hall which is far more suited to sports than a theatre production.”

Despite the struggling attendances, cast members are winning rave reviews for their efforts on stage.

But panto legend GlenMichael admits they face a tough task.

He said: “I feel sorry for the cast because they’ve got a hard job creating an atmosphere in a place like the Citadel.

“It’s a totally different kettle of fish in the Gaiety and people are used to that.

“The sooner the council get their act together and bring it back, the better.

“But I’m amazed they took the step of cancelling a show – it always goes on even if there’s just two people in the audience.”

It’s a much brighter picture in East Ayrshire, where 22,000 tickets have been sold at Kilmarnock’s Palace Theatre, which holds only 503.

Spokesman William Stafford revealed: “Some 300 more tickets have been sold this year compared to the same time last year, two dates have already sold out and there is still great interest in the remaining performances.

“This is a high quality production and we have families travelling from far and wide to enjoy the festive fun.”

A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “With more than half the run still to go for this year’s terrific pantomime, Cinderella, our latest figures indicate that we have sold almost 10,000 tickets to audiences who are having a great time at the show.

“Ticket sales are increasing every day and we look forward to welcoming thousands more to this fantastic family show, which runs until Boxing Day.”

But they failed to provide figures for last year’s run at the Gaiety, claiming they were holed up in an old computer system.