It may only be August, but preparations are already underway for the biggest and boldest Playhouse pantomime to date! Written and directed by panto favourite Toby Hulse, Sleeping Beauty will run from November 22 to January 5!
‘you’ll need to be quick on the draw as some performances are already selling out’
And it it’s too early to use the P word, bear in mind that over 36,000 flocked to Jack And The Beanstalk at Oxford Playhouse last year, and with an energetic cast of loveable, and downright boo-able panto heroes and villains to enjoy with a generous sprinkling of 80s nostalgia, you’ll need to be quick on the draw as some performances are already selling fast.
Sleeping Beauty will tell the unexpected story of teenage princess Aurora who pricks her finger on a spindle and time travels across 1000 years with only a mysterious 1985 Smash Hits Yearbook, her teddy and an 80s school disco twist, to regain her rightful place in the kingdom of Oxland.
‘over 36,000 flocked to Jack And The Beanstalk at Oxford Playhouse last year’
Toby Hulse said: “I am thrilled to be returning to the Oxford Playhouse pantomime for the third year running, and Sleeping Beauty promises to be even more fun – a glorious mash up of traditional panto fun with everything you love about the 80s. I am already dusting off my deely boppers…”
The strong cast features Daisy Ann Fletcher as Ursula the Unsure, Elliott Wooster as Mark-O, Fintan Hayeck as John Rind, Lucy Frederick as Nelly the Nurse, Max Guest as Billy the Silly, Robin Hemmings as Walter the Wicked, Sophia Lewis as Princess Aurora the Awesome, Tats Nyazika as Roderick the Rigid, and Zoe Antoniou as Janice Short.
Panto favourite Robin Hemmings returns as yet another boo-able baddie, Walter the Wicked, after thrilling panto audiences as Hendrix the Horrible in Jack and the Beanstalk READ OUR REVIEW HERE. Max Guest, who played Jack in last year’s production READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH HIM HERE, also returns as another charming clown, Billy the Silly, desperate to prove his worth, but not really sure how to do it.
Tats Nyazika takes on Roderick the Rigid, whose manners are as stiff as his apron. Tats trained with Stagecoach Oxford, Musical Youth Company Oxford and attended Abingdon and Witney College.
Princess Aurora the Awesome will be played by Sophia Lewis, the heir to the throne of Oxland, Lucy Frederick is this year’s panto Dame who raised Princess Aurora from birth, Elliott Wooster will play Mark-O, Princess Aurora’s invisible fairy guide while Zoe Antoniou and Fintan Hayeck mimic two old-skool DJs leading a cohort of Oxford Playhouse Young Company.
The Playhouse’s Mike Tweddle said: “We are particularly excited about this year’s panto. Toby has written a truly magical script, which will be delivered by a creative team of many of our staff. The set is being entirely constructed in our workshop for the first time, and costumes are being designed by our Head of Wardrobe.
“Working in this way has created a real buzz within the building and we eagerly look forward to presenting a pantomime that feels more our own than ever before.”
Sleeping Beauty also has various accessible, relaxed, BSL Signed, Captioned, Dementia Friendly and Audio Described performances.
Tickets for Sleeping Beauty (November 22 to January 5) at Oxford Playhouse at www.oxfordplayhouse.com
