Anger as dwarfs will not be used in Snow White at Birmingham Hippodrome
Panto bosses have come under fire after it emerged this year's production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Birmingham Hippodrome will be staged without dwarfs.
Production company Qdos, which stages Britian's biggest pantomime at the city centre theatre, have confirmed they have axed the dwarfs in a bid to present the characters in a 'different way'.
But they have refused to be drawn on whether this means they will be using children instead.
One panto fan has said the move 'stinks of political correctness'.
The decision mirrors the production company's move when it staged the same pantomime at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre in 2011.
The venue was criticised at the time after the decision was taken to use children in masks in their production rather than dwarfs.
The Grand's production was also put together by Qdos, and bosses stated then that the dwarfs were cut because they cost too much.
Louise Thompson from Qdos said on behalf of the company: "A cast of actors/musicians have already been cast to play the dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Birmingham Hippodrome.
"Whilst Qdos Entertainment has cast dwarfs in past productions, this year the creative team is taking a new approach by presenting the Seven Dwarfs in a different way. The creative team is always looking to find ways of making the show new and exciting without affecting the well-known story."
However, one disappointed fan said: "It stinks of political correctness. How can you possibly have Snow White without the seven dwarfs? It's like having Cinderella without the ugly sisters or Jack without the beanstalk.
"Everyone will feel short changed, especially the kids."
Fashion guru Gok Wan will make his pantomime debut in the production at the city centre theatre.
The How to Look Good Naked presenter will join a star-studded cast which includes soap star John Partridge, actress Stephanie Beacham and presenter Gary Wilmot, who will be making his first performance as a panto dame.
Seven dwarfs hired from an agency did appear in a previous production of the Disney classic at the Grand in 2006, which featured Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph. Bosses said 'dwarfs are very, very expensive'.
