By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 14:18, Friday, 05 February 2010

The man who brought pantomime to Carlisle’s Sands Centre for the last 10 years has been axed.

David McNeill

David McNeill, who wrote, produced and co-directed the annual pantomime, was told after a meeting that he was not being invited back.

Mr McNeill, who has helped bring some top names to the Sands to star in his Christmas productions, said: “I was asked to stay behind after a de-briefing for Dick Whittington when Tom Rice, the manager of the Sands Centre, told me I was not being invited back.

“I was surprised after such a successful artistic year with Dick Whittington that they came to that decision.

“Theatre’s usually operate on a year by year basis. I always said that I would do the panto for a year and then after the first year I did a second year and it went from there. Ten years is a long time and I don’t think they have got rid of me for any malicious reason.”

Mr McNeill’s idea to put on a Christmas pantomime was to give something to the people of Carlisle so they didn’t have to travel away to see a quality production.

He is not sure what he will do this Christmas.

He said: “I have worked at Christmas for the last 10 years so it will be strange for my family.

“I always said the first year I didn’t do panto I would go on holiday but it is too early to say at this stage.”

During his 10 years Mr McNeill, 45, who is events and promotions manager for Cumbrian Newspapers, has put on two Cinderellas, two Dick Whittingtons, two Aladdins, a Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and two Jack and the Beanstalks.

Mr McNeill said: “Peter Pan with Neil Armstrong, Katie Lamont and Donald Scott was probably my favourite.

“I really enjoyed having Sandra Dickinson, Jane Rossington and Jan Leeming in the shows as well.

“Their appearances in the Carlisle panto helped re-launch the careers of Jane and Jan.

“They went on to do bigger things. I don’t think I would want to write and direct a panto outside of Cumbria but I’ll never say never.

“I believe that everything happens for a reason and you never know what’s around the corner.”

Mr McNeill also used children from his theatre school StagedRight in the Sands Centre pantomime.

He said: “I don’t know if the Sands Centre will use the children in the future or not.

“I don’t know whether they will get someone in to write the panto or whether they will do it in-house.

“Whatever they decide to do I wish them well.”

This year’s pantomime will be Sleeping Beauty.

Jonathan Higgins, the Sands arts and events manager, said: “All at the Sands and Carlisle Leisure Limited wish David well for the future and thank him for his hard work over the past 10 years.

“The Sands will continue to produce the pantomime in-house.

“2010 will be the first time that we’ve done Sleeping Beauty, and we are really looking forward to mixing the magical fairytale with lots of traditional panto fun too.”

First published at 14:09, Friday, 05 February 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk