Deep in the wood, a lonely fairy longs for someone to bless.
When she is summoned to the palace to help the princess sleep, her dream turns into a nightmare and her blessing becomes a curse.
Soon, she is plunged into a frantic, hundred-year quest to somehow make everything right.
Rosalie Craig plays the fairy in this vividly original retelling of Sleeping Beauty: a mythic, big-hearted new musical that goes beyond the waking kiss.
Rufus Norris directs with music by Jim Fortune, book by Tanya Ronder, designs by Katrina Lindsay and choreography by Jade Hackett.
MAYFLOWER THEATRE TO STAGE SOCIALLY-DISTANCED PRODUCTION OF SLEEPING BEAUTY
COMEDY LEGENDS JOE PASQUALE AND LESLEY JOSEPH LEAD THE CAST OF THE NEWLY-ANNOUNCED PANTOMIME
Mayflower Theatre and pantomime producers Qdos Entertainment have today announced that a socially-distanced pantomime will be staged at the Southampton venue, with an all-new production of Sleeping Beauty, thanks to support from The National Lottery. Starring legendary funny-man Joe Pasquale, comedy legend Lesley Joseph, iconic female impersonator Ceri Dupree and musical theatre leading lady Sarah Earnshaw. The show will play from Saturday 19 December for a strictly limited 2 week run.
The production is able to go ahead thanks to the support of The National Lottery, which will give thousands of theatregoers, in Southampton and across the country, the chance to enjoy socially distanced pantomime this Christmas. The show is being staged as a result of an initiative between The National Lottery and Qdos Entertainment which is providing financial support for theatres to stage socially distanced, live pantomimes this festive season. This will make it viable for venues, including Mayflower Theatre, to open their doors to the general public, generating vital income for the theatre and helping to restore jobs while providing much-needed cheer for pantomime lovers.
Comedian and actor Joe Pasquale will lead the cast in the role of Princess Beauty’s best friend, Muddles. Well-known and best-loved for being one of the hardest-working and top-selling live comedians in British comedy today, Joe has been delighting audiences for more than 20 years with his live stand-up tours and infectious sense of fun. Joe has toured in several major theatrical productions including Mel Brooks’ The Producers, starred in the West End production of Spamalot, been crowned King of the Jungle in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… appeared on five Royal Variety Performances and toured the UK in a live stage incarnation of the classic sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em in the iconic role of Frank Spencer.
Birds of a Feather legend Lesley Joseph joins him as the evil Carabosse. Lesley’s extensive career has seen her appear on stage in dramas, musicals and reviews in the West End and across the UK and on every major television channel and on film working with major directors including Franco Zeffirelli. Most recently Lesley starred as Miss Hannigan in Annie, Mrs Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie as well as appearing in Home directed by Peter Hall. In 2018 she starred in the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in London’s West End starring as Frau Blücher, a role for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. No stranger to pantomime, Lesley stars in Qdos Entertainment Productions to audience and critical acclaim every festive season.
Joining Joe and Lesley as Queen Passionella will be legendary cabaret and female impersonator Ceri Dupree. Ceri has delighted audiences worldwide for almost 30 years with his unique vocal, comic and costuming talents, which have seen him perform in musical theatre, pantomime, summer season, television and cabaret in the UK and across the world. In 2015 he played Widow Twankey opposite Joe Pasquale in Mayflower Theatre’s critically-acclaimed pantomime, Aladdin.
Starring as The Enchantress is leading lady Sarah Earnshaw. Sarah made her West End debut in the multi-award winning musical Wicked in the lead role of Glinda, followed by the role as the Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre. She starred alongside Marti Pellow in the UK tour of Jekyll & Hyde, and alongside Tommy Steele in Scrooge at the London Palladium. Most recently she appeared in Nativity! on its UK tour and London residency and toured as Betty Spencer opposite Joe Pasquale in his smash hit production of much-loved sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.
They will be joined by local actress Georgia Carr as Sleeping Beauty. Georgia began her performing career as part of Mayflower Theatre’s Summer Youth Projects, and appeared in leading roles including Nancy in Oliver!. Since recently completing her training at the London College of Music, she went on to perform the role of Katherine Howard in SIX.
Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive said, “I am delighted that during these challenging times, we are able to bring much needed uplifting entertainment to Southampton with Sleeping Beauty. Thanks to our producers, Qdos Entertainment and The National Lottery, our audiences will be able to enjoy a safe socially distanced pantomime for the whole family this year. Audiences can look forward to something very special for the festive season. Christmas is ON in Southampton! “
This year’s production, created especially for Mayflower Theatre in this unprecedented year, will be a riotously funny, one-act celebration of pantomime, packed full of comedy and laughter and allow audience members the opportunity to come safely together and enjoy the magic of the much-loved and unique art form this festive season.
The previously advertised production of Cinderella will be staged in 2021 and existing bookers have already been contacted with details of their new tickets.
The support of The National Lottery will ensure that socially distanced panto can take place this year at the Mayflower theatre, and other theatres across the UK. Up to 20,000 free tickets to pantomimes across the country, including in Southampton, will be made available to National Lottery players to thank them for making it possible for this Christmas tradition to go ahead. National Lottery players raise on average £30M each week for Good Causes. This year has seen up to £600M in National Lottery funding being used by charities and organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the arts, community and charity, heritage, education, environment and sport sectors.
Tickets for Sleeping Beauty go on sale on Thursday 29 October 10am from mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811
: current/future_show
: 41442
: Mayflower Theatre, Empire Lane, Southampton
: 19/12/2020
: SO151AP
: 03/01/2021
: South East
: Created especially for the Mayflower Theatre. Produced and written by Qdos Pantomimes.
