The Stage is set

... (behind the safety curtain) for the Christmas Panto at Harrogate Theatre!
This morning we went on a backstage tour of the Harrogate Theatre. It was quite fascinating touring the dressing rooms, the stage and going up in the 'flys'. (That's the bit high up on each side of the stage where they pull the ropes to raise and lower the scenery.)
We are going to see the Panto 'Beauty and the Beast' on Friday, (oh yes we are...), so we got a sneak preview of the costumes and sets including the 'slime chute' where there will be some messy goings on!
Sadly, no photographs were permitted in the dressing rooms or on stage of the sets as the show is currently running and they wouldn't want me running to the local paper with all my photos.
Instead I opted for a straightforward shot of the stage from the balcony.

It is a lovely Victorian theatre which was opened in January 1900. During its last refurbishment in 2007, the seats in the main auditorium were re-upholstered in peacock blue in acknowledgement of William Peacock, the first ever managing director of the Grand Opera House, as it was called when it opened in 1900.
The extra is a view up the main stairs from the entrance hall.