Susie McKenna News

With only one day to go until Panto Day 2013, Pantoland is putting the final touches in place to celebrate the magic of pantomime on Saturday 7th December.

'We're having such fun!' enthuses Sharon D Clarke. She sounds remarkably perky for someone who's just started the traditional gruelling British panto schedule. But then the Hackney Empire panto isn't your usual panto.

Here are the first images from Hackney Empire's 2013 pantomime Puss in Boots. The iconic London pantomime is written and directed by Susie McKenna who celebrates her 15th Hackney pantomime this year.

Hackney Empire has just released production images of their 2013 pantomime, PUSS IN BOOTS. Kat B, Sharon D Clarke, Josefina Gabrielle and Stephen Matthews star in this year's iconic Hackney pantomime. London's No.1 pantomime will run to the 05 January 2014 with press night set for Wednesday 04 December, 7pm. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Hackney Empire will present Puss in Boots as its 2013 pantomime. This brand new show will be written and directed by Susie McKenna and produced by the creative team that has made Hackney Empire's the number one London pantomime. The show will run from tonight, 23 November 2013 to the 05 January 2014.

On Sunday 27 October around 100 people took to the streets of Hackney in an array of pantomime attire to take part in the first ever DAME DASH. The event rose over £7000 which will be divided between Hackney Empire and St Joseph's Hospice allowing these two East End charities to continue their work and support within the local community.

This week the world famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home received a slightly larger feline visitor than usual. Kat B, who will play Puss in Boots in the renowned Hackney Empire pantomime this year, got into character with the Home's feline residents on Wednesday after visiting the London rescue centre, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary of rehoming cats this year.

Today Hackney Empire announces the principal cast of its brand new pantomime, Puss in Boots. Written and directed by Susie McKenna with music by Steven Edis, the cast will include Kat B as Puss in Boots, Sharon D Clarke as Queen Talulah, Josefina Gabrielle as the witch Evilena and Stephen Matthews as Dame Nettie Knowall. In true Hackney style this rarely performed classic Perrault pantomime will be reimagined for today's audience, packed with show-stopping songs, dazzling dance routines and side-splitting comedy.

This morning Hackney Empire and St Joseph's Hospice launched the inaugural charity event, DAME DASH with panto legend and Hospice supporter, Christopher Biggins. Biggins was joined on stage by Hackney panto star Kat B, Hackney Empire Creative Director, Susie McKenna and Carolyne Barber from St Joseph's Hospice. Scroll down for photos from the launch!

Susie McKenna, Creative Director at Hackney Empire, directs Blues in the Night today, 14 July 2013 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Hackney Empire will present Puss in Boots as its 2013 pantomime. This brand new show will be written and directed by Susie McKenna and produced by the creative team that has made Hackney Empire's the number one London pantomime. The show will run from the 23 November 2013 to the 05 January 2014.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT uses the great blues and jazz songs of the 1920s and 30s to explore the lives of three women and a saloon singer in a 'cheap hotel' during the course of a long memory-filled evening. The 26 songs celebrate the blues melodies of Bessie Smith, Jimmy Cox, Duke Ellington, Alberta Hunter and songs by Harold Arlen, Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Johnny Mercer and others.

There are some winter traditions that never fail us. London will grind to a halt at the first sign of sleet, Oxford Street will turn into a festive free-for-all the week before Christmas and Hackney Empire will put on a good panto.

London's No. 1 pantomime team is back again with another smash-hit Christmas cracker.

'Hartshorn - Hook Productions presents The Music of the Blues Brothers - a Tribute, the most electric rock'n'roll party of the year. Following spectacular success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with a month of sell-out shows and 5-star reviews, this raucous live tribute show is now rolling into London. This Tribute is directed by the award-winning Patrick Wilde and is backed by the tightest rhythm and blues band in the city. We tear through the best in American Blues, Soul and Rock'n'Roll classics including Gimme Some Lovin, Think, Minnie The Moocher, Sweet Home Chicago, and Jailhouse Rock. So dig out your sunglasses and get ready to shake your tail feather because this supercharged high-octane Tribute is about to take London by storm.' For more information, visit www.hartshornhook.com.

London's No. 1 pantomime team is back again with another smash-hit Christmas cracker.

Tiny Tim Productions, the producers of "PUSS IN BOOTS", which was due to open at the Arts Theatre in London on 30 November, following previews from 18 November, have been left with no alternative other than to cancel the production.

'Hartshorn - Hook Productions presents The Music of the Blues Brothers - a Tribute, the most electric rock'n'roll party of the year. Following spectacular success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with a month of sell-out shows and 5-star reviews, this raucous live tribute show is now rolling into London. This Tribute is directed by the award-winning Patrick Wilde and is backed by the tightest rhythm and blues band in the city. We tear through the best in American Blues, Soul and Rock'n'Roll classics including Gimme Some Lovin, Think, Minnie The Moocher, Sweet Home Chicago, and Jailhouse Rock. So dig out your sunglasses and get ready to shake your tail feather because this supercharged high-octane Tribute is about to take London by storm.' For more information, visit www.hartshornhook.com.

'Hartshorn - Hook Productions presents The Music of the Blues Brothers - a Tribute, the most electric rock'n'roll party of the year. Following spectacular success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with a month of sell-out shows and 5-star reviews, this raucous live tribute show is now rolling into London. This Tribute is directed by the award-winning Patrick Wilde and is backed by the tightest rhythm and blues band in the city. We tear through the best in American Blues, Soul and Rock'n'Roll classics including Gimme Some Lovin, Think, Minnie The Moocher, Sweet Home Chicago, and Jailhouse Rock. So dig out your sunglasses and get ready to shake your tail feather because this supercharged high-octane Tribute is about to take London by storm.' For more information, visit www.hartshornhook.com.