Eliza Bowden is such a bundle of energy and fun, the perfect choice then to play Snow White in Oxford Playhouse‘s 2026 panto. The fact that she is a local lass from Wallingford, fine tuning her childhood love of theatre at Stagecoach in Oxford, makes it even better.
We meet at Oxford Playhouse, characters rushing past in sparkly, sequinned costumes, others carrying instruments, the cast heavily embroiled in rehearsals to bring the in-house panto dazzlingly to life.
And Eliza is absolutely in her element, relishing every single minute. She has never been in a panto before, touring with Heathers The Musical until very recently, but when her agent rang about the part she jumped at the chance to take part.
‘Christmas is my favourite time of the year and it’s so magic to be starring in such a big in-house stage production like Snow White’
“I was on a cruise so couldn’t go to auditions so I sent them a tape made in my cabin and got the part. I think it was serendipitous because I’ve just been in the Disenchanted! (the side-splitting, cheeky, musical mash-up of all our favourite fairy tales) playing three princesses, so I will have been playing princesses all year,” she laughs.
“So this is really exciting and such a great part. Christmas is my favourite time of the year and it’s so magic to be starring in such a big in-house stage production like Snow White.
‘We all feel like we are five years old again. I’m just swizzling around and having a lovely, joyful time’
“Plus, this is the first time they’ve done Snow White at Oxford Playhouse, and the first time the artistic director Mike Tweedle has directed a panto. Most of the cast are first timers too. So it’s really exciting and very energetic. We all feel like we are five years old again. I’m just swizzling around and having a lovely joyful time,” Eliza says.
Eliza’s excitement is largely down to Snow White herself, or Snow as she’s known, who is fighting to save West Oxford Wood from her evil mother Queen Narcissa of the Queendom. Narcissa wants to keep the wood for herself and use its minerals to ensure her beauty is eternal. Snow wants it to be an eco park and preserve its natural habitat.
Snow as she’s known, is fighting to save West Oxford Woods from her evil mother Queen Narcissus of the Queendom
Let the fun begin! Throw in Dame Marigold and her incredible costumes, featuring an abundance of fruit and veg ‘in interesting places’, an ‘extraordinary cast”, a unique pig, ‘a cheeky juicing machine’, green warriors, rebels, jokes for the adults, great sets, atmosphere, original songs, singing, dance moves and the talented young company, and we are in for a treat!
“So Snow White is aimed at all ages with lots of silly gags, magic, and the audience getting involved. We want everyone to feel the magic, ensure Oxford has a magical Christmas, and take that joy home.”
‘We want everyone to feel the magic and to ensure Oxford has a magical Christmas, and take that joy home’
But what of the traditional elements of Snow White‘s tale? What of mirror mirror on the wall? “We have our own version MiRi, like Siri,” Eliza says. “And yes there is also an apple – it’s the most important part of the story. But instead of dwarves, The Young Company are The Collective – a bunch of rebels, Snow’s green warriors!”
And is there a prince? “Yes but there is also The Hunter.” So is there a love triangle? “Well it’s good to have love interests vying over you,” Eliza says mysteriously.
‘Snow doesn’t stay at home cooking and cleaning, because she has too much to do. She has to find her people to help her stop her mother destroying the wood’
What of Snow herself? Is she as traditional as the original tale? “Of course not! She doesn’t stay at home cooking and cleaning, because she has too much to do. She has to find her people to help her stop her mother destroying the wood!” Eliza explains.
So how does Snow rebel against Queen Narcissa? “Initially Snow is under her mother’s control, but when she finally breaks free Snow starts taking charge even though her mother is the evil queen. It’s all so great!”
‘this snow white is really fun with so much heart. And it has that essential message about loving who you are and being true to yourself, as well as fighting for what’s right’
“But more than that this Snow White is very funny. We have all been howling with laughter in rehearsals. It’s really fun with so much heart. And Snow White includes that essential message about loving who you are and being true to yourself, as well as fighting for what’s right.”
So how will Eliza stay the course? “Well that’s my job, and I have the training and know how to look after my voice, and lots of vocal techniques to get my voice in shape and rest it when necessary. It’s rigorous and we have to be really strict.
‘we can’t wait to get going. We just want to bring a bit more joy into the world’
“There’s an art to having your voice ready for the 10am performances because panto is a beast. But we can’t wait to get going. We just want to bring a bit more joy into the world.”
Snow White comes to Oxford Playhouse from November 20 – January 3. BOOK HERE
