Big Top's Sleeping Beauty axed

There had to be a loser in the festive entertainment onslaught that has been dubbed 'panto wars', and the plan to revive the Summer Pops's big top tent to stage a pantomime and family fair at the arena site was up against it from the start.After Sleeping Beauty unexpectedly lost its star Andrew Lancel, the opening night was delayed by several days due to "technical difficulties" and Twitter talk of disgruntled audience walk outs followed. The company behind the whole shebang finally announced it had gone bust on Christmas Eve, thereby cancelling all outstanding shows. The endeavour was reported to have cost £2 million. 

The Echo Arena released the following statement: "ACC Liverpool has been informed by the directors of Core Promotions Ltd, promoters of the Liverpool Christmas Family Festival and Sleeping Beauty pantomime, that Core Promotions Ltd has ceased trading.

"All further performances of Sleeping Beauty at The Liverpool Waterfront Big Top have been cancelled with immediate effect and the Liverpool Christmas Family Festival site closed.

"All customers who purchased tickets by credit/debit card will receive an automatic refund. A refund will be credited to the card that was used to purchase the tickets. All customers who purchased tickets by cash should contact their point of purchase to receive a cash refund. The TicketQuarter Box Office can be contacted  on 0844 8000 410 or email customerservice@ticketquarter.co.uk."

Not wanting to miss a trick, some rival productions haven't wasted any time offering discounts in a bid to woo the abandoned Sleeping Beauty crowd. All's fair in love and panto war?