Sleeping Beauty to wake up twice in Nottinghamshire

Published: 22 November 2014
Reporter: Steve Orme

Nottingham Playhouse favourites Rebecca Little as Queen Gertrude and John Elkington as Nurse Tilly Trott
Sleeping Beauty is also the 2014 panto at Mansfield Palace Theatre

Two Nottinghamshire theatres have chosen Sleeping Beauty as their 2014 panto.

Former Nottingham Playhouse artistic director Kenneth Alan Taylor will be directing his 31st panto at the theatre. Said to be one of the most influential panto practitioners working in the UK today, he has written and performed in as well as directing pantos since 1962.

He said, “it’s a joy to be working with so many of my old friends again. I may not be donning the frocks any longer but I know the fabulous John Elkington will continue the tradition of true family pantomime that Nottingham Playhouse is famous for.”

Long-standing Playhouse favourites Elkington and Rebecca Little return as Nurse Tilly Trott and Queen Gertrude.

The rest of the cast comprises Tim Frater as Jerry the Jester, Francesca Ellis as Fairy Wisheart, Jonny Fines as Prince Alexander, Anthony Hoggard as King Hubert and Monster, Hannah Whittingham as Maudlin the Mean and Kelly Edwards as Princess Rosalind.

Sleeping Beauty runs at Nottingham Playhouse from Friday 28 November until Saturday 17 January 2015. Press night will be on Saturday 29 November.

Meanwhile former Coronation Street actor Vicky Entwistle, who played Janice Battersby, will be Bad Fairy Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at Mansfield Palace Theatre. Children’s TV presenter Amy Thompson from Channel 5’s Milkshake will take the role of Princess Briar Rose, the Sleeping Beauty of the title.

Adam Moss has been cast as Silly Billy and Sarah-Jane Buckley, who was Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks, will play the Good Fairy. Charles Burden will be returning to Mansfield to play the dame, this time in the guise of Nanny Glucose.

Sleeping Beauty runs at Mansfield Palace from Saturday 29 November until Sunday 4 January 2015.

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