Panto duo honoured by Stafford theatre with seat dedications
A Stafford theatre has paid tribute to two of its most-loved panto stars by naming seats after them in the Main Auditorium.
Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis are back at the Gatehouse Theatre for the third year running in Sleeping Beauty, which runs from December 5 to January 4.
To mark their three years leading the panto fun, the theatre has had plaques attached to seats in the main house in their honour, something CBBC star Mark said he was thrilled about.
He said: "I’m a fairly local lad and I’ve loved every minute in Stafford as the people are lovely, the Gatehouse is brilliant and the audiences have been out of this world. So this is a great honour and I really, really appreciate it."
David, who plays Nurse Nora Nickerbocker in Sleeping Beauty, said: ‘I’m blown away as this is a fantastic gesture and I feel humbled by it, because I truly love being in Stafford. What’s scary is how fast the time has flown by."
Both award-winning stars first featured in Beauty and the Beast in 2023, before returning in last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk and now Sleeping Beauty.
Gatehouse general manager Gary Stevens said: ‘We are delighted to dedicate a seat to both David and Mark, whose commitment and character have uplifted all who share this space.
"Throughout the last three years they have attracted around 60,000 people to our pantos and now these seats show gratitude and respect.’
Other stars with seats named after them in the Main Auditorium include Jason Manford, Joe Pasquale and Su Pollard, while members of the public can now also name a seat at the theatre.
Marketing manager Keith Harrison said: "With our Name a Seat initiative, anyone can have a plaque placed in the auditorium for any reason whatsoever.
"It could be to remember a loved one, mark a friendship or just salute someone who has spent many happy hours at the Gatehouse.
"You can have your own wording on the plaque and they make a lovely Christmas present for theatre lovers."
