Now Cinderella, Eden Court’s most successful pantomime to date has finished, you might think it would be a chance for the theatre and production team to take a well earned break.

Not so, following the end of one pantomime, work immediately begins on the next, however, there is an added problem this year in that the next Eden Court pantomime 2005-06 pantomime will need a home.

Eden Court will close in the beginning of June for approximately eighteen months to enable building work for the large scale development programme to begin. Despite the closure period, the theatre and cinema will continue to programme some events and performances at venues all across the Highlands.  However, finding a venue or a large space to be converted into a theatre for a period of up to eight weeks is proving difficult and Eden Court and their pantomime production partner Team Entertainments have been looking in earnest for a new venue to stage the next production.

The venue would ideally be situated in or around the Inverness area, to allow audiences to travel from all over the Highlands and northern Scotland and it should accommodate at least 400seats.  It will be needed for at least eight weeks for rehearsals from the end of November through the panto run over the Christmas period and into the beginning of January.

Eden Court director Colin Marr said.

“We always have a pantomime at the end of every year.  It’s a tradition and one that we really didn’t want to miss just because we were closed.  Every year thousands of children travel with their schools from all over the Highlands and many more families and friends make up the audience in the evenings.  We are looking at several venues, but if we’ve missed one and someone thinks they know of a building that could be converted into a temporary theatre, could they let us know”.

Attracting an audience of 38,000 the pantomime is the single largest event in the Highlands and also one of the most complicated to stage.  However staff are confident that once a venue has been found by working their panto magic the show will go on.

Producer Nigel Hurst said.

“In the past we’ve overcome many challenges on stage, now we have one off stage.  We have looked at several venues in the area and some are really promising, however, if anyone thinks that they know of a building that could be used we’d really like to hear from them”.

If anyone does know of a building please could they contact Eden Court on 01463 239841.