BREAKING a wall of silence, but having still not having answered questions about the propriety of the contract process, Thurrock Council has announced it has struck a deal with Peterborough-based Polka Dot Pantomimes to produce this year's show at the Thameside Theatre.

The show will be 'The New Adventures of Peter Pan'.

In a release issued today (Tuesday, 17 June) Thurrock Council has announced that Polka Dot, which it describes as 'a nationwide leader in producing and staging festive fun and frolics' has been selected to put together 'an extravaganza of "Look behind you's!" and laugh-out-loud moments for local residents'.

Shows will run from Sunday, 30 November to Friday, 2 January.

Tickets can be booked online via this link. Further information can be obtained by calling the box office on 0345 300 5264 from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm. The box office at the Thameside Theatre is also open during those hours.

Adult tickets cost £23, children aged four to 16 are £19.50 and todlers from 12 months to three years are £10.50. Group discounts are also available. 

Cllr John Kent, portfolio holder for Sustainability, Culture, Arts and Heritage said: "I am delighted that this year's Thameside pantomime will be the New adventures of Peter Pan - and that we will again be working with Polka Dot to make sure of a fantastic festive show for residents. 

"The pantomime is always the biggest event of the year at the Thameside, and tickets sell out really quickly - so I urge everyone to get in early!"

The build-up to today's announcement has seen Thurrock Nub News pose questions of the council management about the way the contract has been awarded, following the rejection of an internal submission by staff and local musical groups of a proposal they they could run the pantomome more profitably. Ironically they were also proposing to produce a version of Peter Pan, with high tech involvement to enhance the flying aspects of the show.

Questions raised with the council in the wake of our story in May (Mystery and uncertainty surround the future of Thameside Theatre and its panto once again) have fallen on deaf ears.

Among the questions, which have not been answered by senior members of the council's staff, is one about the validity of it offering a contract to Polka Dot without going through a tender process, which is a government directive for any procurement issues over £60,000. Last year Thurrock Council paid Polka Dot more than £144,000 to put on the show. A source within the council has confirmed that Polka Dot were 'out of contract' with existing terms having expired following a one year extension to an original contract - but no explanation has been offered about how a new deal was struck without a tender process.

Thurrock Nub News spoke to Cllr Kent today, following the announcement, about our concerns and showed him the questions asked of senior members of the council's staff, including the interim Director of Place, Claire Demmel. He responded by saying he had not been made aware by anyone within the council of the Nub News concerns and of any possible tender rules breaches. He said no-one within the authority had raised potential issues with him.