Marti Pellow will play the Ratman, Matt Slack will take the title role, television presenter Dr Ranj will become Spirit of the Bells and Suzanne Shaw will play Alice in Birmingham Hippodrome’s 2022 panto Dick Whittington.
“The UK’s biggest regional panto”, which will feature sets and costumes from the London Palladium, will also feature the return of Birmingham favourites Doreen Tipton as the cat and Andrew Ryan, marking his 32nd year as the dame.
Pellow played Abanazar in Aladdin at the Hippodrome in 2015. He and songwriting partner and musical director Grant Mitchell will write several songs for Dick Whttington.
Slack returns to the Hippodrome for a record-breaking ninth consecutive year, with Dick Whittington marking his 20th panto.
Alongside his work as a practising doctor in the NHS, Dr Ranj is a columnist, writer and contributor to ITV’s This Morning.
Suzanne Shaw rose to fame in 2001 as a member of the band Hear’say. She has since carved out a successful career in musical theatre, playing Roxie Hart in Chicago at London’s Cambridge Theatre in 2008 and also takin the role of the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She returns to the Hippodrome after playing the title role in Cinderella in 2017.
Michael Harrison, chief executive of Crossroads Pantomimes who will produce and direct Dick Whittington, said, “the Birmingham Hippodrome panto is a real jewel in the crown of pantomimes in the UK. It’s fitting to be announcing such a stellar and talented cast to bring to life our epic production of Dick Whittington.
“With the combined talents of Marti, Matt, Ranj, Suzanne, Doreen and Andrew, together with the magnificent sets built for the London Palladium, this will be a very special trip to the theatre for all the family.”
Dick Whittington will run at the Hippodrome from Saturday 17 December until Sunday 29 January 2023.