Scotty T’s Snow White panto CANCELLED following pay dispute with cast
A statement said the panto was cancelled due to "industrial issues" and advised ticket holders to apply for a refund
SCOTTY T's Snow White pantomime in Leeds has been cancelled entirely following a dispute with the cast over pay.
Ticket holders at Thursday night's performance were told the show wouldn't take place just minutes before the cast were due to take to the stage.
Geordie Shore star Scotty, who had been playing Prince Charming, walked out after alleging he’s only received 10 per cent of his fee and claims he even lent “the production over £7000 to cover accommodation and flooring for the venue”.
Deborah De Vittoris, who was promoting the production said the cast "refused" to go on stage on Thursday night.
Speaking to the , she said: “The entire cast had been promised full payment for a number of weeks.
"The cast refused to go on stage on Thursday night because they haven’t been fully paid. Jimmy Cricket announced to the audience that the show was cancelled.”
A statement from the directors Liberty Events (Leeds) Ltd was posted on the White Rose Theatre’s website which said that all remaining shows will not take place.
It read: “It is with the deepest regret and our sincere apologies to patrons that due to industrial issues that Liberty Events (Leeds) Ltd hereby advise the remaining scheduled performances of the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the White Rose Theatre, Leeds are cancelled.
“Applications for full refunds for the aforesaid performances effected and the 7pm performance of Thursday, December 29 should be addressed to our contact page.”
However, Brookside star Louis Emerick said he turned up to find the show had been cancelled.
He told : "We turned up today with the intention of working and found out it had been cancelled, the place had started to be gutted out.
"We've carried on working in good faith with promises the money would come forward, but that never happened."
In a statement released to The Sun Online following his departure, Scotty revealed he hadn’t left due to ill health but because of the monetary issues.
He claimed that the creators of the pantomime, the White Rose Productions Company, “have continually given me false promises of payment,” and that “they had not planned any method of payment.”
Scotty also alleges the panto was a “scam”, stating: “In my view, this whole production has been a scam with no funds for wages from day one and false promises delivered from the directors about funds.”
The TV star also says in his statement that he’s had “no contact from the directors of the company with a promise to pay.”
In his statement he went on to apologise to fans, writing: “I would like to apologise to everyone who has purchased tickets for the event and I'm so sorry that I will no longer be a part of this performance
“I am sad that I have not been able to finish my commitment to the rest of the cast.
“I apologise to anyone who was hoping to see me in the performance, but I hope you understand my reasons.”
Last week, Nicholas Towell, director of Liberty Events, released a statement in response to Scotty's claims saying: "Liberty Events (Leeds) Ltd is aware of the remarks that appeared on Mr Scott Timlin’s (aka Scotty T ) Twitter account yesterday.
"It would be inappropriate of this company to comment further at this time whilst our legal team review the statement and are in receipt of all the facts.
“In the meantime the cast and this company are committed to ensuring the show goes on.
“We take this opportunity to thank cast and crew for their continued loyalty to the production with special thanks to Mr Darrien Wright for stepping into the role left vacant by Mr Timlin with only one hours notice yesterday. A star is born they say, he delivered a superb performance received by a most appreciative audience.”
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Scotty received mixed reviews for his role as Prince Charming in the production.
Taking to Twitter to complain about the show, one user blasted: “Scotty T in panto is the worst thing I have ever witnessed!!!! The whole show is a disaster!”
In a series of tweets she then went on to reveal that one matinee show was even cancelled earlier this month in order to let the cast rehearse more and iron out any technical glitches.
She wrote: “Yeah, honestly it's the worst thing I've witnessed he can't act or dance at all and the mics kept going off.
“They've cancelled tomorrow morning show to rehearse 😭 they need to cancel the full thing!!”
While another woman took to the theatre’s Facebook page to complain about the technical issues throughout the show – revealing it had left her daughters in tears.
She wrote: “Tonight's show has been awful, I really hate to say this but the sound has been bad, mics not working which meant the cast lost the crowd from the start... not enough interaction...the crowd not being kept under control, kids running riot, security cant control them( not that they should have to but they are not even in the theatre).
“Not even half way through and so many ppl have walked out. It's embarrassing and I feel sooo sorry for the cast because it's not their fault.
“My daughters have been in tears because couldn't hear some points!
“I really hope this is first night blip! Gutted we came to this show and not one later on.”
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