Cbeebies fans give Arena thumbs up after first big test

Jan 7 2008 by Jessica Shaughnessy, Liverpool Daily Post

cbeebies

THE first paying audience at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, gave the new venue its seal of approval yesterday.

Hundreds of children and their parents poured out of the arena on the Kings Dock beaming from ear to ear following the debut stage show of CBeebies.

While the youngsters were delighted to see their favourite TV characters such as The Tweenies and Fireman Sam, the adults said the new Arena helped make the experience a memorable one.

Kathleen Dutton, from Liverpool, took her three-year-old grandson, Max, to the Arena’s first ticketed event.

She said: “It was brilliant. The great thing was we could walk here.

“Max really enjoyed the show, it was fantastic and the Arena really looked good both inside and out.

“Usually, I go to Manchester to see concerts and things like that. I don’t think it is quite as good as the MEN, but it’s getting there.”

CBeebies Live! Wonderlands featured the largest group of CBeebies characters to appear in one show including Big Cook Little Cook, Lunar Jim, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Pingu and Tweenies. As the audience from the first show spilled out on to the Kings Dock, crowds waiting for the second show to begin in the afternoon queued to get in.

Dressed in a Fireman Sam outfit, three-year-old Lucas Papageorgiou, who went to see the show with his three-year-old cousin Finn O’Hare, said he “loved” the event.

His uncle Andy O’Hare, from Woolton, added: “You couldn’t fault the show, or the venue.”

Some members of the audience told the Daily Post about a few teething problems, but said nothing came close to spoiling their day out.

Vanessa Nice, who took her two-year-old daughter Ella to see the show, said: “There was a bit of a break in the middle of the show, which we weren’t sure was supposed to happen.

“And it is a bit difficult to navigate the car park. But these were just little things that can be straightened out.

“Overall, we were really impressed. The Arena is fantastic and the stage looked wonderful. It was really exciting to be there for the first show.”

Sandra Greenway, from Wirral, attended with her three grandchildren and two daughters who had travelled from the Midlands. She said: “We couldn’t believe the prices of drinks and food inside. It all looked wonderful, though.

“It’s also great to see so many people have come to the city, it is a good boost to the area.”

The Arena is expected to provide a £100m boost to the Merseyside economy in its first year.

About £40m will be brought into Merseyside from gigs and performances at the ECHO Arena, including the MTV Europe Music Awards.

jessicashaughnessy