We sprinkled festive magic across Sunderland on Saturday by treating 200 customers to the Sunderland Empire’s spectacular pantomime Sleeping Beauty as part of our annual Your Gentoo Christmas campaign.
For some, it was their very first pantomime experience and one customer was so overwhelmed with joy they cried when they found out they were going, showing just how much this gesture meant.
Louise Bassett, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Christmas can be a challenging time for many families, and we’re proud to bring joy and create lasting memories for our customers. We’re incredibly grateful to Sunderland Empire, Isoler and PHS for their generosity, which helped make this special event possible.”
Craig McCluskey, Contracts Manager, who volunteered on the night, added: “Seeing the smiles on customers’ faces was priceless. It was wonderful to help create such a magical evening and be part of something that means so much to our community.”
The evening included complimentary snack packs, selection boxes and free transport where needed, creating a truly memorable experience for all – no wicked fairy could spoil this night!
The experience was made possible thanks to the generous support of our contractors Isoler, who sponsored the pantomime tickets, and PHS Home Solutions, who covered the cost of snack packs and a private room for customers to relax in before the show.
Josh Watson, Managing Director at Isoler Limited, said: “Our long-term relationship with Gentoo means a great deal to us and we’re incredibly proud to again sponsor this year’s Christmas pantomime for Gentoo customers. At what can be a challenging time of year, it’s great that Gentoo can organise an event that brings people and families together. We wish everyone and Gentoo and all their customers a very Merry Christmas.”
Jason Oakes, Partnership Director at PHS Home Solutions, said: “At PHS Home Solutions, we’re passionate about supporting the communities we work in, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping Gentoo create such a special evening for their customers. Christmas can be a difficult time for many families, so being able to help deliver an experience filled with joy, laughter and lasting memories is incredibly rewarding. It was fantastic to see everyone enjoying such a magical night at the Sunderland Empire.”
This year’s panto is truly spellbinding, starring BBC’s Call the Midwife favourite Laura Main as Fairy Snowfall, Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter David Ribi as Prince Vincent, and West End star Jordan Lee Davies as the wicked Carabosse. They are joined by Wearside panto favourites Miss Rory and Tom Whalley, guaranteeing laughter, magic and plenty of “oh yes, it is!” moments.
The Sunderland Empire was delighted to host the event. Paula Mitchell, Sales and Development Manager at Sunderland Empire said: “We are always thrilled when we get the call from Gentoo that they would like to host a festive event for panto with us for their tenants. They have been kindly organising this event for quite a few years now and it is always a highlight in the calendar. The occasion truly captures the spirit of Christmas, charity, making memories, panto fun and of course, plenty of smiling faces.”
This pantomime outing is just one of several activities we are delivering this December to support customers and spread festive cheer across Sunderland.
