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Aladdin Pantomime at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Opens to Packed Houses!

Yorkshire’s number one family pantomime, ALADDIN, opened last Saturday to packed houses and will run for the next 5 weeks at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford. 

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This year’s pantomime is led by Bradford pantomime king Billy Pearce, stage and screen personality Christopher Biggins and Blue sensation Simon Webbe; and they are joined by an array of talented musical theatre performers: Sarah Goggin; Carl Sanderson; David O'Mahony; and Emily Beth Harrington.

ALADDIN marks Billy Pearce’s 20th pantomime season at the Alhambra Theatre, an achievement recently marked at the Welcome to Yorkshire conference staged at the theatre where Billy became the second ever recipient of their Pride of Yorkshire award for his services to Bradford pantomime..  The multi-award-winning comedian, who plays the role of Wishee Washee in this year’s panto, has enjoyed a hugely successful career on television and on stage.  

It is pantomime for which Christopher Biggins is best-known and most-loved, entertaining thousands of festive theatregoers every year since he began his regular panto appearances in the mid-80s.  From Glasgow to Plymouth, Biggins has donned a host of outrageous frocks and had audiences in stitches across the UK ever since.  Biggins last performed in pantomime at the Alhambra Theatre thirty years ago alongside The Krankies.  This year’s production of Aladdin marks his ninth trip to Old Peking where he will take up residence in the iconic laundry and star as Widow Twankey.

Sarah Goggin (Princess Jasmine) returns to Bradford this year after her appearance in the titular role in last year’s Cinderella.  Sarahmost recently played Sister Mary Robert in the UK tour of Sister Act for Jamie Wilson Productions.  Her previous credits include Rachel in Bad Girls (The Union Theatre); Christmas in New York with Eden Espinosa (Palace Theatre, London/Manchester); A Different Kind Of Christmas Musical (Leicester Square Theatre); Been on Broadway (Vaudeville Theatre); Betty in Sincerely Yours (Landor Theatre); Woman 2 in I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change (Battersea Barge); Jodie in Best Of Friends (The Landor).  Sarah has appeared in the workshop productions of Honky Tonk Angels (Wizard Presents, Pete Brooks) and Trash (Courtyard Theatre). 

Carl Sanderson (Emperor) is from West Yorkshire and has appeared in a wide range of musicals including Sunset Boulevard (national tour), My Fair Lady (Sheffield Crucible and National Tour), Hairspray (National Tour), Cats (New London Theatre and National Tour), Phantom of the Opera (West End and National Tour), Beauty and the Beast (Wakefield Theatre Royal) and Peter Pan (West Yorkshire Playhouse).  His television and film credits include Victoria Wood Christmas Special, Acorn Antiques The Musical, That Day We Sang (BBC) and The Dresser (BBC). 

David O’Mahony (Abanazar) returns to the Alhambra Theatre and is reunited with Billy Pearce after appearing as Prince Benedict in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at the Bradford venue in 2014/15.  David’s theatre credits include Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, The Bodyguard and he has played the role of Abanazar in Aladdin previously for Qdos Entertainment at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton.

Emily Beth Harrington (Scheherazade) hails from North Yorkshire and trained at Urdang Academy.  Her theatre Credits include Miss Saigon (UK TOUR), and Starlight Express.

If the all-star cast wasn’t enough, the production is also packed with an ensemble cast of performers and dancers, a live band and the traditional juvenile dance troupe, The Sunbeams, who appear on stage courtesy of Sara Packham’s Theatre School based in Cullingworth, Keighley.

As well as the all-star cast, ground-breaking special effects once again take centre stage.  Over the past six years, audiences coming to the Alhambra Theatre pantomime have been treated to an array of show-stopping effects, created by The Twins FX.  Unmissable 3D spectacle also returns to this year’s Alhambra Theatre pantomime an eye-popping magic carpet ride through Old Peking!  It was at the Alhambra Theatre over ten years ago that pantomime producers, Qdos Entertainment, first featured ground-breaking 3D as part of their shows.  Since then the technology behind 3D graphics has been made even more sophisticated to ensure audiences will be on the edge of their seats!

This year’s panto will once again be produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the same team behind the annual Alhambra Theatre pantomime for 20 years.  Aladdin will be directed by Ed Curtis, returning for his eighth consecutive Alhambra Theatre pantomime, reuniting him with Billy Pearce.  With over 70,000 people already set to enjoy this year’s pantomime, make your wishes come true and fly to the box office to secure your tickets for this year’s must-see Alhambra Theatre festive production!

Be amongst the first to see Aladdin at the Alhambra Theatre – it’s a spectacular treat for the family this festive season!  Let us “wishee washee” the dishes and eat with us here at the Alhambra Theatre – you can book a table pre evening or post matinee show in the Alhambra Theatre’s Restaurant 1914 (children can eat for only £4.95!) – call Hospitality on 01274 431052.