Video 19

9 January 2012

NEWS RELEASE

GIANT SPIDER ESCAPES FROM THEATRE ROYAL!

A giant spider is reported to have escaped from the Theatre Royal on Newcastle's Grey Street earlier today, and was last seen walking the pedestrian area towards Earl Grey's Monument.

The giant arachnid, known as "Fluffy Steve" is thought to have a role in the Theatre Royal's current show -- the record-breaking pantomime Sleeping Beauty. He is the largest spider in pantomime history, reported to be over four metres tall and with a leg span of over 10 metres, and very hairy. Although Fluffy Steve has not yet been caught, Theatre officials confirmed there was no cause for alarm as he is not dangerous, and won't eat anyone unless provoked.

Philip Bernays, Chief Executive at the Theatre Royal, said: "It appears that Fluffy escaped from the Theatre around 10am this morning and has been roaming the streets since. He was last on stage during yesterday's evening performance of Sleeping Beauty. We have a good team out to catch him. He's hard to miss so we are following up sighting reports and hope to have him back on the stage in time for tomorrow's matinee show."

In the pantomime Sleeping Beauty Fluffy plays the monstrous pet of evil fairy Carabosse, whose wicked plan sends Princess Beauty asleep for 100 years.

Bernays added: "He's had a really good run so far and is proving one of the biggest hits of this pantomime season (literally!) -- we think he might have just become disorientated on the way to his dressing room."

Theatre staff are keen to locate Fluffy asap as figures have recently revealed that the show is the Theatre's most popular show EVER in terms of footfall / people through the door and has now sold 83,000 tickets for all performances with another two weeks still to go.

Fluffy was created by TheTwinsfx, one of the leading companies operating in the field of theatrical visual special effects, illusions and animatronics. He took two months to build, is made from over 100 metres of fluffy material and 50 ltrs of latex and every leg moves with animatronics. He requires six Puppeteers to operate him. For more information about TheTwinsfx, visit: www.thetwinsfx.com

Sleeping Beauty -- The Pantomime of Your Dreams! is a dazzling pantomime spectacular, featuring breathtaking and technologically-advanced special effects and West-End-quality choreography, comedy, illusions, sets and costumes. Multi-award-winning pantomime legends Danny Adams and Clive Webb are back again by overwhelming popular demand playing Muddles and The King respectively, supported by the North East's most famous Dame, Chris Hayward, in his 27th panto appearance, this time as The Queen. It is also the first pantomime to be shown in the Theatre's multi-million pound restored auditorium.

Sleeping Beauty is kindly supported by Media Partners The Evening Chronicle and Metro Radio.

Sleeping Beauty -- the Pantomime of your Dreams will appear at the Theatre Royal until Saturday 21 January 2012. Tickets are priced at £10.50 - £27.50 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Newcastle
• Theatre
• Royal
• Spider
• Pantomime
• Grey
• Street