Joe Pasquale is leading a host of panto favourites in a new musical comedy film celebrating everyone’s favourite festive genre released in support of NHS Charities Together.
Filmed in just 12 days and produced on a micro-budget, The Gift features the popular comedian with the distinctive voice as Buttons in a family-friendly tale set on Christmas Eve.
Commenting on the genesis of the project during this turbulent year, playwright Michael Head said: “It was a very worrying time and losing our pantomime which was booked for a 2k seater in Islington was called off and I really started to panic, I needed to do something to ensure I could keep a roof above my children’s heads.
“I spoke with producer Jason Samuels and multi-award-winning director Adam Morley regarding a potential feature film project with Kensington Library. They agreed it was a good idea which gave me just a week to write the film and three weeks prep to produce a feature film musical.”
Packed with pantomime staples and favourite characters the cast includes Vas Blackwood as Abanaza, Caprice Bourret as The Good Fairy, Vanessa Feltz as The Fairy Godmother, Chesney Hawkes as Dad, Myra Dubois as the Ugly Sister, Dane Bowers as Prince Not So Charming, Tina Malone as Sandra, Abz Love as Sleepy, Ben Ofoedu as Genie, Lucy Beresford as The Evil Queen, Paul Danan as Red Riding Hood and Rhia Official as Tink’a’bell.
With award-winning NHS doctor Parvinder Shergill making an appearance, the film also gives professional debuts to over 30 performers including recent graduates from the country’s top performing arts schools.
Now available on Amazon and Amazon Prime, discussions are currently ongoing to screen The Gift in a number hospitals to patients free-of-charge.
The Gift is planned as the first in a series of up to ten films aimed at raising money for the NHS and giving young and under-represented actors a chance at appearing on screen.
Angela Thomas
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