An actor in the upcoming Christmas panto in Great Yarmouth is hoping for a record-breaking online audience for this year's show.

For the past two years, St George’s Theatre has worked with the Norfolk Music Hub to stream its pantomime to schools.

It was originally intended to be seen by about 5,000 junior school pupils in the county but when word got out during lockdown, schools around the country jumped at the chance to join the online audience.

Rapunzel was watched by 250,000 children in 2020, and last year that figure leapt to 350,000 for the live streaming of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Nick Earnshaw is playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan, the first full-scale pantomime to be staged at St George's Theatre in Great Yarmouth since Covid.Nick Earnshaw is playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan, the first full-scale pantomime to be staged at St George's Theatre in Great Yarmouth since Covid. (Image: Richard Batson)

Charlie Randall, who is playing the title role in Peter Pan at the theatre from December 10 to 31, thinks that when it is broadcast on December 14 the viewing figure could be nearly 400,000.

“The numbers are just mind-boggling and just a little bit daunting for the cast,” he said.

“We think that last year only the National Theatre’s online production was watched by more children.

“This is brilliant because panto is a great introduction to the theatre for young people, who just love the songs, silly jokes and bonkers props."

Mr Randall, 26, who lives at Brampton, near Aylsham, is a familiar face at St George’s, where he has appeared in four previous pantos and other productions, including John Godber’s Bouncers.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: St George�s Theatre at Great Yarmouth. Photo: Andi Sapey

It was this play that in 2018 brought him to the attention of Yarmouth’s Time and Tide Museum which was looking for costumed performers to help teach history to visiting school children.

He has dressed as everything from a stone age man to a Roman centurion and a World War I officer.

Peter Pan’s foe, Captain Hook, is played by Nick Earnshaw, who also wrote and directs this production, which sees the St. George’s balconies transformed into Hook’s ship the Jolly Roger.

For the first time since lockdown ended, children will be in the cast.

Thirty will be taking part, split into three teams of six girls for the chorus, two groups of five for the Lost Boys and two lads as pirates.

“It’s great to see because it’s another sign of the theatre world returning to normal,” said Mr Randall.

For tickets and information visit www.stgeorgestheatre.com or call the box office on 01493 331484.

Tickets are £8, £10 and £30 a family.