Customs House pantomime favourite Davey Hopper is about to take his final bow as a much-loved character, Arbuthnot.
The 29-year-old from South Shields has been playing the part of Arbuthnot for the last eight years in the South Tyneside venue’s Christmas pantomime.
However, after landing his dream job in Disneyland Paris, Davey will be saying ‘au revoir’ to his alter ego in a special summer pantomime.
Cinderella, which runs from August 4 to 12, may be Arbuthnot’s last outing, but Davey is making sure he goes out with a bang.
He said: “Eight years ago, comic in The Customs House panto was the end game, I do genuinely believe it’s the best job in the world. I know I’m incredibly lucky and I will miss it, but when you achieve your dream, you must get new goals.
“Playing Pumbaa in Disneyland is like a fairytale - and I wouldn’t leave Customs House for anything else.
“The cherry on the cake is knowing the job of the comic is going to my best friend Glen Richard Townsend – he’s going to smash it.”
Glen commented: ”I’m so proud of Davey. When he told me he’d got the job I was over the moon, and now I’m so excited to be filling the massive shoes he‘s left.”
Davey’s first panto role was in a school production of Cinderella, he was desperate to play Buttons, but he got the role of Dandini. Reflecting on this he said: “It feels like a full circle moment that the final pantomime I do as Arbut will be Cinderella and I’ll be playing Arbut-tons!”
Davey made his professional debut in Consett Empire’s pantos, but the dream was always Customs House. He said: “At 21 I was at a Westovians dinner dance and Ray Spencer was there.” What Davey didn’t realise was Ray had already been keeping an eye on his career and was keen to give him his shot in The Customs House’s panto.
Davey continued: “I was so nervous, by the end of the conversation he passed me a napkin with a list of the Jack and the Beanstalk characters and said who are you going to play? You’re going to play my idiot son! Eight years later and we’re here.
“Cinderella is going to be a great send-off to Arbuthnot, come along and help us say goodbye.”
Ray commented: “Everyone at The Customs House is thrilled and delighted to see Davey join the land that is Disney. We will miss him terribly, but we are so lucky to have Cousin Dennis join our Customs House panto family.”
Cinderella is at The Customs House from August 4 to 12. Tickets are £15 and available from customshouse.co.uk or by calling the box office: 0191 454 1234.
