panto stars have plenty to smile about this year – with south Essex theatres celebrating record-breaking panto seasons.

Brian Conley has helped the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, chalk up a box office record, while Jack and the Beanstalk has been a giant success for Basildon’s Towngate Theatre.

The Towngate reported a 21 per cent increase in ticket sales over last year, making it the town’s most successful panto.

Comedian Conley, who finished his run as Buttons yesterday, helped the Cliffs beat its previous record box office take by more than £20,000.

By Friday, the show had sold £1,088,000 of tickets, the equivalents of more than 56,000 theatregoers.

The previous record was set two years ago when Joe Pasquale’s version of the same panto netted £1,065,000.

The 50-show run started on December 12, with Conley joined on stage by West End regular Michelle Potter as Cinders, Dawson Chance as Baron Hardup, and Brian Godfrey and Darren Southworth as the Ugly Sisters.

Conley came to the role after TV work and stage shows including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Jolson.

Theatre director Ellen McPhillips said “In the current economic climate, it has been a tremendous achievement by the cast and the theatre’s staff to break a record, set only two years ago.

“It’s been a pleasure to see the delight on the faces of the children, parents and grandparents who have enjoyed this tremendous production over the past four weeks.

“This proves yet again live theatre is something which can be enjoyed by everyone.”