Former Coronation Street star Nick Cochrane is back at The Deco Theatre this Christmas as one of the stars of the Peter Pan Panto. But more than that, this year he is directing the show, too.
Nick, who played Andy McDonald in the ITV Soap Opera for eight years, is joined by
singing star Lydia Lucy, who returns to the Deco two years after wowing audiences in
‘Beauty and the Beast’. Colin Ridgewell is back for his fourth Deco Panto, Chris Wills returns for his second, and they will be joined on stage by popular local performers,
Naomi Wilkins and Clive Fletcher, and a team of extremely talented local young actors and dancers who all came through tough auditions.
The show runs from December 8 to 30, and Nick Cochrane says directing the show is “natural progress” after appearing in three of the last four Deco Pantos. “I’m really excited about it,” he said.
“It’s natural progress, I suppose, and when the producers invited me to do it, I jumped at the opportunity.”
Nick is not new to directing, but this is his first panto. And having been a massive hit with audiences in Beauty and The Beast, Snow White, and Aladdin he is now looking forward to putting his own stamp on the show.
“Great Panto means a happy cast, hard work, a good script, a top team behind the scenes, and having great fun – we’ve got all that and more at The Deco,” he said.
“Marry that to fantastic audiences which we always have, and you’re on to a winner;
I’m really excited about Peter Pan, it’s going to be great fun for all of us, which hopefully will be reflected in the enjoyment our audiences have.
Since appearing in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ two years ago, Lydia Lucy’s career has been non-stop. She has finished in the top three of the TV talent show The Voice last year, and has spent the last 18 months performing all over the world.
“It’s been a whirlwind, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said.
“But I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to The Deco because it’s a special place for me.
“It’s a lovely theatre, a great team behind the scenes, and a fab cast – and I know
Nick will be a brilliant director; he’s a great character, very funny on and off stage, and cares passionately about what he does,”she said. “I enjoyed ‘Beauty and the
Beast’ so much, I always wanted to do another Deco Panto, and Peter Pan is going to be fab.”
Peter Pan tickets are selling fast. To buy tickets, call 01604 491005, buy online at www.thedeco.co.uk, or call in to The Deco between 10am and 4pm Thursday to Saturday.
“Nick, Lydia and Colin are all back by popular demand,” said Jill Roach, of Northampton based Stage Right Productions, which manages The Deco.
“It’s fantastic that Lydia agreed to return, and with Clive, Naomi and Chris Wills, plus all the young actors and dancers, we have a fantastic team, and we are all really excited about putting on another great show for the people of Northamptonshire and beyond.”
