DID the Wyvern Theatre have another record-breaking panto season at the box office this winter? Oh yes it did!

Yhe theatre sold more than 26,000 tickets for Dick Whittington this year, which ended its four-week run on Sunday.

Starring Nigel Havers, star of stage and screen most recently remembered for his roles in Coronation Street and Downton Abbey, as King Rat, alongside Kristian Morse as Dick and Barnaby Hughes as Tommy the Cat, the show was a hit with audiences, with many people returning to the theatre for a second taste.

Theatre director Derek Aldridge said: “It’s been a really good year and we’re really pleased and sales in the ticket office have been very strong.

“We had 26,000 seats sold which is the same as last year, and that was a record year. There were 51 performances, so it was a really good run.

“It’s been fantastic to see the number of people who came through and some of them came back a few times, I’ve had a really nice email from a lady who said she enjoyed it so much she wanted to see it again.”

Nigel Havers, who won Best Exit at the 2013 British Soap Awards after starring as love-rat Lewis Archer in Coronation Street, proved a real hit with audiences.

Derek said: “Nigel was great, he’s a fantastic baddy, and gave a very charming performance.

“Even though audiences were booing him in the right places, they’d also be smiling because he had that charm.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy it and particularly the opening scene of Act II where he played Mastermind.”

What made this year particularly special was the greater capacity the Wyvern had to offer additional services to help those with sight and hearing problems to still enjoy the performance.

Derek said: “It was great this year to be able to have more sign language performances and also audio describers too which meant more people with disabilities could still come along.

“We also put on a special performance where around 60 children who have an undiagnosed disability came with the SCWAD charity, Swindon Children Without A Diagnosis.”

Now the Wyvern is getting ready for an extensive line-up of new shows and productions for the new year, including Dreamboats and Petticoats and Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

They are also already preparing for next year’s pantomime, which is set to be Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

To find out more about what else is in store at the theatre this year visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.