Theatre pantomime production wins top award

Eastbourne's Devonshire Park Theatre won Best Direction at the UK Pantomime Awards

An East Sussex theatre has been honoured at the UK Pantomime Awards.

The production of Snow White at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne won the prize for Best Direction at the ceremony at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on Sunday.

Pantomimes at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, Central Theatre in Chatham, Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks and Pavilion Theatre in Worthing also received nominations.

Winning director Chris Jordan said he was "very pleased" to have picked up an award.

The Eastbourne production was nominated in four categories at the ceremony.

Mr Jordan told BBC Radio Sussex: "The whole evening was a huge celebration of the genre.

"There were productions from all over the UK and it was wonderful to have a bit of a panto reunion in April."

The director said the whole production process for his pantomime took 13 months and that 12,000 tickets had already been sold for this year's production.

Eastbourne Theatres said on social media: "Oh yes he did! Congratulations to Chris Jordan."

The production of Snow White in Eastbourne was nominated for four awards

A total of 52 judges collectively visited 216 venues to watch 496 performances across the UK.

The awards for Best Pantomime went to:

• Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield (more than 900 seats)

• Loughborough Town Hall (500 to 900 seats)

• Greenwich Theatre (under 500 seats)

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