The festive treat features comic and panto favourite Billy Pearce (King Billy), TV doctor and presenter Dr Ranj (The Royal Doctor), Liz Ewing (Carabosse), Brogan McFarlane (Princess Aurora), Sabrina Aloueche (The Good Fairy) and Sarah Goggin (Princess Narcissa). Join them in a magical adventure where Princess Aurora pricks her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel given to her by her evil godmother Carabosse and is placed under a cruel curse forcing her to sleep for one hundred years. Can true love survive and break the spell? Can Aurora’s hilarious father, King Billy, help save the town and who will outwit the evil Carabosse and foil her wicked plans?
As well as the fantastic principal cast and ground-breaking special effects, Sleeping Beauty features a talented ensemble of dancers and performers, who have been put through their paces by the show’s choreographer, Stillie Dee. Leeds-based Stillie has choreographed many pantomimes over the past 20 years and has had the pleasure of working alongside stars such as David Essex, Julian Clary, Joe McElderry and Lesley Joseph. This is her 10th pantomime at the Alhambra Theatre. She is the Artistic Director of Renaissance Arts, based in Leeds, one of the leading professional dance and musical theatre conservatoires in the UK, training the next generation of talented performers to go into the industry.
The ensemble includes 5 dancers from Yorkshire: Sebastian Anthony (Brighouse), Elliot Hutchinson (Harrogate), Jessica Kewley (Leeds), Georgina Stringfellow (Horbury Bridge), Evie Talbot (Yeadon); plus, Connor Collins & Sammie McGinlay (from Scotland) and Jack Webb (from Southampton). As part of the 9 ensemble dance routines during the 2-hour panto, the dancers showcase 552 costume items with nearly 400 poppers (all hand sewn in), to facilitate the total of 89 individual quick changes they make! The speciality costumes they wear, such as the polar bear outfits, are designed and provided by Mike Coltman and the team at Costume Construction. Mike’s team works in all areas of entertainment including theatre, TV and film, including the new series of BBC’s Inside No. 9 and Hitmen series two for Sky.
Sebastian Anthony is from Brighouse and trained at Renaissance Arts in Leeds. His professional credits include Ensemble in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Alhambra Theatre, Bradford), Featured Artist in a short film Thrive & Succeed, and a promotional video Potential for BlackBox Creative. He has also worked as a dancer and supporting artist on television shows for the BBC, ITV and Channel 5.
Elliot Hutchinson is from Harrogate and at the age of 16 he gained a scholarship at Renaissance Arts Conservatoire, where he trained for three years in Musical Theatre and Dance. Elliot graduated in November 2021 and Sleeping Beauty at the Alhambra Theatre is his professional debut. Credits whilst training include Fever (by Rez) music video and Thrive & Succeed short film.
Jessica Kewley is from Leeds and graduated from Renaissance Arts in 2019 after completing a three-year professional dance course and qualifying as a member of the IDTA in Modern Jazz. Her performance credits include Ensemble Dancer in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Alhambra Theatre, Bradford) and summer season at Alton Towers. She has worked as a backing dancer for a Michael Jackson tribute act and appeared in music videos for Anonymous Records, Firm Music Group (Jamie Berry Light Up the Night) and 529 Film Production (Apollo Junction On the Ropes).
Georgina Stringfellow from Horbury Bridge recently graduated from Renaissance Arts after completing a three-year professional dance course. Throughout her training, Georgina has been involved in commercial / contemporary photo shoots and filming for Renaissance Arts with BlackBox Creative. Sleeping Beauty at the Alhambra Theatre is Georgina’s first major role in the professional industry.
Evie Talbot from Yeadon recently graduated from Renaissance Arts Conservatoire and her credits include Featured Soloist / Dancer for BlackBox Creative.
Connor Collins trained at Confidance Musical Theatre School in Glasgow, before continuing his professional training at Laine Theatre Arts in London. Musical theatre credits include Angel in Kinky Boots (UK tour), Carlos/Cover Emmett in Legally Blonde the Musical (UK tour), Ensemble/Stilt Walker in Love Never Dies and Jury/Ensemble in Chicago. Connor’s pantomime credits include: Cinderella (Kings Theatre, Glasgow), Dick Whittington (Theatre Royal Plymouth), Aladdin (Liverpool Empire), Cinderella (Milton Keynes Theatre). His television credits include Love Never Dies, Chicago (Helene Fischer Show) and Chicago (Bambi Awards).
Sammie McGinlay trained at Laine Theatre Arts and her credits include Ensemble/ Understudy Spirit of Bow Bells in Dick Whittington (Wycombe Swan), Backing Dancer for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend (Stewart Park, Middlesbrough), Solo Vocalist/Ensemble Singer in Movies to Musicals with Kerry Ellis (Royal Concert Hall), Backing Dancer for Zak Abel and Rika (UK and European tour) and Backing Dancer for various artists at the BRIT Asia TV Awards.
Jack Webb trained at the Rambert School graduating with a BA (hons) in Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Since then, he has worked for a variety of companies in dance and theatre including Where the River Runs for Full House Theatre in association with Motionhouse, Penguins (Cahoots NI and Birmingham Rep Theatre), New Jersey Nights, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Winter Wonderland and The Entertainer (Spirit Productions USA) and Romeo and Juliet (English National Ballet).
Jack is also an accomplished Aerialist performing on cruise ships, in cabarets, festivals and events. In addition to performing Jack has also choreographed both aerial and dance for stage and film. During the pandemic he founded Webb Aerial Theatre, a company creating fun narrative stories for children and families through aerial-dance. This will be Jack’s fourth pantomime having previously performed in Cinderella (New Victoria Theatre, Woking and New Wimbledon Theatre, London) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Alhambra Theatre, Bradford).
This year’s panto is produced by Crossroads, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the same team behind the annual Alhambra Theatre pantomime for over 20 years. SLEEPING BEAUTY is directed by Ed Curtis, returning for his 10th Alhambra Theatre pantomime.
Sleeping Beauty is now open and runs until Sunday 16 January 2022 - it has all the fun, laughter, magic and special effects that audiences have come to expect from the Alhambra Theatre pantomime each festive season. Don’t get caught snoozing, book your tickets now!
