Northern Ireland

Thousands of pupils enjoy in Northern Ireland's biggest ever virtual Panto

The Beauty and the Beast digital pantomime was livestreamed on Thursday
The Beauty and the Beast digital pantomime was livestreamed on Thursday The Beauty and the Beast digital pantomime was livestreamed on Thursday

THEATRES may be closed but the Christmas show must go on, with a group of performing arts students putting on Northern Ireland's biggest ever virtual pantomime for schoolchildren.

Aided by an enthusiastic team of music, media, audio and visual, art, hair and beauty students, the Southern Regional College acting hopefuls performed a new take on Beauty and the Beast to thousands of school pupils from hundreds of schools across the north

The major technical feat saw the show beamed from their Armagh camps to schools and homes on Thursday - the biggest livestream broadcast Christmas pantomime in the region.

The college decided to put on the show after many traditional and normally sold-out Pantos paused this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic - realising they had all the talent and technical know-how for the digital and logistical feat.

The cast was made up of more than 27 local Level 3 Performing Arts students from Southern Regional College, with video contributions from primary, secondary and special schools across the north which were included in the special one-off production.

All music used throughout the performance was originally written and performed by Level 3 Music students, with live sound production and filming by students from the Level 5 HND Music course.

Up to 500 primary, secondary and special schools and more than 20,000 students and staff viewed the livestreamed production in their classroom bubbles and homes and homes.

Teresa McBride, SRC Performing Arts Course coordinator, said the team were "delighted to share with so many children in schools, hospitals, hospices and in care settings as part of a special Christmas treat which we hope was enjoyed by many".

Rehearsals for the main elements of the show were carried out under safety guidelines at the new £35 million state-of-the-art campus which is home to theory and practical-based learning in a range of creative subjects including dance, music, performing arts and photography.

The production required planning and logistics including the extensive use of separate rooms, spaces and timelines for filming to ensure everyone's safety and compliance with public health guidelines.

Brian Doran, Chief Executive, Southern Regional College, said:

"Given the challenges of this year for everyone, I can't think of a more appropriate way to kick off the festive season."