The remainder of Ayr’s pantomime programme has been axed due to the Covid Omicron outbreak.
Ayr Gaiety Theatre have cancelled the rest of their panto performances of Jamie & the Unicorn due to three confirmed positive cases of the virus.
Saturday's and Sunday’s performances were canned after one person tested positive and it was hoped the remainder of this week could go ahead.
But further positive cases have led Gaiety bosses to cancelling the remaining performances, which ran until Christmas Eve on Friday, for the safety of the audience, cast, crew and staff.
Ayr Gaiety chief executive Jeremy Wyatt said there had been confirmed cases in both the company and front-of-house, who have been keeping separate throughout with everyone taking lateral flow tests every day.
He said: “We’re really disappointed.
“We’d put a lot of work into trying to ensure the show was going to be able to go ahead.
“Everybody was testing everyday; one person tested positive and as soon as that happened we didn’t go ahead that day.
“Everybody isolated and tested and unfortunately that person, who had obviously did a lateral flow test, got a positive PCR.
“And then someone else got a positive lateral flow and positive PCR, and by that point it wasn’t going to work.
“And then we had the same in front-of-house.
“We’ve got understudies but it’s too many; it’s a small company and it’s too many to be able to go ahead.
“However, we were always mindful that something like this might happen so we have got a fantastic film version that we created.
“That’s gone out to all the schools in South Ayrshire and we’ve got some really nice feedback and videos of the kids singing along to the song sheet.
“It’s available to the public online. It’s £9 to download and you can watch it over the Christmas period when you want.
“It isn’t the same but it’s a lot better than nothing.”
Jamie & the Unicorn tells the story of the McGuffie family, who – with the help from the Arran fairy and Prince Hal of Tarbolton – set out on a quest to save Ayrshire from the curse of an everlasting winter.
They must find the only creature that can break the curse – the legendary unicorn!
Laugh, sing, dance and shout in your own home by watching it on-demand at https://bit.ly/3DGpBVo
All ticket holders will receive an email with information on alternative options and are asked for their patience while a reduced team work through refunds.
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