The Mercury Theatre in Colchester has today announced further casting for their upcoming pantomime Sleeping Beauty, which runs over the festive season from 25th November 2023 – 14th January 2024.
Directed by Mercury’s Artistic Director Ryan McBryde (Aladdin, The Comedy of Errors), Sleeping Beauty jumps off the page in a side-splitting adaptation by Guy Unsworth (Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em). This year’s pantomime has recently broken box office records with the run approaching selling out.
Joining previously announced Mercury pantomime legends Dale Superville (Spamalot) as Spud, Antony Stuart-Hicks (Hairspray) as Dame Maris Piper and Sasha Latoya (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Fairy Fizz are Jaimie Pruden (Assassins) as Carabosse, Alexandra Barredo (Romeo and Juliet) as Luna, Philip Catchpole (The Book of Mormon) as Prince Istuna, Matthew Forbes (The Lion King) as Polo with Shelby Speed (Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour) and Nick Brittain (Cat in the Hat) as Ensemble/Understudies. Pruden, Barredo, Speed and Brittain all return to the Mercury Theatre, having been in last year’s acclaimed pantomime Beauty and the Beast.
Ryan McBryde said of today’s announcement, “Pantomime has existed for over 200 years and remains a truly magical art form where nothing is out of reach, and everyone is welcome. Sitting in a packed auditorium with everyone from the youngest children to the oldest grandparents all having an absolute ball of a time, is one of the most rewarding experiences a creative director can have. Pantomime is often a child’s first ever encounter with theatre, so it’s incredibly important to us at the Mercury that they have the best time imaginable. We can’t wait to welcome back our loyal audiences for our all-singing, all-dancing, gigglefest production of Sleeping Beauty this Christmas.”
Alongside McBryde and Unsworth on the creative team are Jasmine Swan (Off West End Award nominee, Linbury Prize finalist, The Stage Debut Awards nominee) as Designer, Matt Ladkin (La Clique) as Lighting Designer, Nico Menghini (Seussical the Musical) as Sound Designer, Paul Herbert (Pieces of String) as Musical Director, Rosie Mather as Choreographer, Jenkins McShane CDG, Lucy Jenkins and Sooki McShane as Casting Directors, Chani Merrell as Assistant Director (Birkbeck Placement).
Swan returns to the Mercury Theatre having won the Great British Pantomime Award for Costume Design for her work on last year’s pantomime Beauty and the Beast.
Musicians for the production will be David Pack playing Drums and Percussion, Harley Johnston playing Electric and Bass Guitar and Emma Mackinder playing Alto Sax, Clarinet and Flute.
The Junior Chorus for the production will be formed of two teams ‘Luna’s Loves’ and ‘Polo’s Posse’. ‘Luna’s Loves’ will be formed of Albie Keeble, Miguel Benerayan, Chloe Cheung, Xavana Blake, Kacey Speakman, Niamh Butcher, Nathan Smith and Daisie McIntyre. ‘Polo’s Posse’ will be formed of Leo Wiggins, Scarlett Brothers, Annabel Nottage, Misan Idowu, Archie Kropidlowski, Zara Ball, Dexter Inman and Shanta-May Boodoo.
Running alongside Sleeping Beauty in the Mercury Studio will be Little Angel Theatre’s production of Me… from 13 December 2023 – 7 January 2024. The early years favourite, which follows a baby penguin finding his feet in the world, is a lovely and touching story about a parent and their love for their child by much loved children’s author Emma Dodd, brought to life through puppetry.
Local creative and Mercury Creatives alumnus Kate Millner will star in this production. Kate penned the script for the Christmas 2021 advert for In Colchester (Blank Space) and the script (adapted from an original story by Neil D’Arcy Jones), music and lyrics for the children’s musical King Coel’s Curtains- which premiered last year in Colchester Castle Park.
Tickets for both productions are on sale at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk.
