Steve McFadden

A controversial artist who rose to prominence while capturing the mood of 'Brexit Britain' is bringing 20 of his politically-charged pieces to Warrington. Christopher Spencer – better known as 'Cold War Steve' – has teamed up with the Pyramid Arts Centre for an exhibition which will launch at the beginning of October.

Beginning later this month, an array of stars from the world of Stage, Screen and Entertainment will light up thirty-five theatres across the nation for this year's Qdos Entertainment pantomime season celebrating the very best of British traditions for the festive season.

The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Shakespeare's most intense and terrifying tragedy is directed by Rufus Norris 25 years after his last Shakespeare production.

Beginning next month, a host of stars from the world of entertainment will light up the stages in thirty-five theatres around the UK for this year's Qdos Entertainment pantomime season.

If there is one sure sign that Christmas has truly arrived, it's the inescapable onslaught of the pantomime season. Theatres across the country ring to the shouts of 'he's behind you', the boos and hisses, and the singalong family favourites. Often acclaimed as the UK's biggest pantomime, Birmingham Hippodrome present a first class production every single year, and 2016 is no exception. The magical pantomime adventure Dick Whittington stars John Barrowman as the eponymous hero, alongside Steve McFadden (King Rat), Jodie Prenger (Fairy Bowbells) and The Krankies. 

To celebrate the opening of Dick Whittington in Birmingham, principal cast members JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER, MATT SLACK, ANDREW RYAN and DANIELLE HOPE took to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for a fairy-tale appearance earlier this afternoon in countdown to the opening performance at 2.30pm on Monday 19 December. Scroll down for photos!

Qdos Entertainment's production of Cinderella opened last night, Wednesday 14 December 2016, and runs over the Festive season, until Sunday 15 January 2017.

With panto season just around the corner, Birmingham Hippodrome has today announced details of a new fundraising campaign which aims to raise over £12,000 to help support its growing programme of Relaxed Performances for audiences with special access needs and complex learning disabilities in 2017.

With less than one month to go until the opening of Birmingham's favourite pantomime, Qdos Entertainment and Birmingham Hippodrome are delighted to announce that West End actress and singer DANIELLE HOPE will join JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER and MATT SLACK in this year's magical, festive production of Dick Whittington from Mon 19 Dec 2016 - Sun 29 Jan 2017. 

Beginning this month, a host of stars from the world of entertainment will light up the stages in twenty four towns and cities around the UK for this year's Qdos Entertainment pantomime season. From Aberdeen to Plymouth, over 60 well-known actors, comedians and entertainers will lead the casts of the nation's favourite pantomimes in theatres across the country including, for the first time in nearly three decades, a return to the capital's London Palladium.

Over the past eleven years family-run pantomime producers, Evolution Productions have built up a reputation for being the UK's number-one creators of bespoke high-quality pantos. The 2016 line up does nothing to disprove this.  The company, which is run by husband and wife team, former TV presenter Paul Hendy and Oxford graduate and former film production manager Emily Wood, will be presenting a festive banquet of seasonal shows across the country from then end of November 2016 to mid-January 2017.  The line up comprises Dick Whttington starring Stephen Mulhern (ITV's Catchphrase, Big Star Little Star) as Billy at The Marlowe in Canterbury, Peter Pan starring Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell - Eastenders) as Tinkerbell and Shaun Williamson(Barry Evans - Eastenders and himself in Extras) at The Hawth in Croydon, Sleeping Beauty at Lichfied Garrick Theatre starring Rebecca Keatley (CBeebies) as Fairy Moonbeam and the great dame himself Sam Rabone as Nurse Nellie, Snow White at The Lyceum Theatre Sheffield starring Wendi Peters (Coronation Street - Cilla Battersby- Brown) and Phil Gallagher(CBeebies - Mister Maker), Snow White at The Alban Arena St Albans starring Rita Simons(Eastenders - Roxy Mitchell) and Ian Kirkby (Dick & Dom In Da Bungalow), Cinderella at Theatre Severn Shrewsbury with panto favourite Brad Pitt and Peter Pan at the Octagon Theatre Yeovill starring supervillain Andrew Fettes as Captain Hook. 

Soap star royalty arrived in Birmingham this week as Britain's favourite soap baddie, Steve McFadden paid an exclusive visit to the city's premiere theatre in countdown to the arrival of Birmingham's biggest panto!

Following last year's record-breaking production of Aladdin attended by nearly 120,000 people, Birmingham Hippodrome is thrilled to play host to another unmissable pantomime production of the rags-to-riches tale, Dick Whittington, this Christmas season. Scroll down to meet the cast!

As the curtain falls on the 2015-16 pantomime season, Evolution Productions announce record-breaking figures, demonstrating beyond doubt that the pantomime renaissance has come of age.  With The Marlowe Theatre leading the way with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs playing at 99.06% capacity with the number of tickets sold a stunning 95,685 (nearly double the city's population), box office figures over their seven shows across the country came in at 91% attendance, an increase across the board of 10.3% in financial terms on the previous year.

The UK's most successful family run pantomime production company, Evolution Productions has announced its line up of bespoke high quality Christmas shows for 2014. The company, which is run by husband and wife team, former TV presenter Paul Hendy and Oxford graduate and former cinema commercial production manager Emily Wood, will be presenting a lucky seven of the best pantomimes across the country from then end of November 2014 to mid-January 2015.