Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre welcomes panto stalwart Iain Lauchlan back to the main stage after an absence of five years.
Lauchlan, who played the dame in Belgrade pantos between 1988 and 1999, is nurse Nanny Nora in Sleeping Beauty.
He made a one-off return in 2007 when he was in Aladdin to celebrate the theatre’s reopening after a £14 million redevelopment.
Lauchlan said, “I feel so comfortable with Coventry audiences. They’ve supported me over many years and don’t seem to forget me when I’m not there.
“I’m really looking forward to playing dame in Sleeping Beauty this year and catching up with old friends. I can’t wait!”
Joining him on stage will be Coventry-based actress Katy Stephens who will play wicked Fairy Carabosse. She has been in numerous productions at the Belgrade as principal boy.
Aside from panto, she appeared in the recent Birmingham REP production of Calixto Bieito’s Forests and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2006 to 2011.
She said, “The Belgrade holds a special place in my heart. It's not just a theatre or a team of people, but a family. Whether I’m treading the boards or just popping in for a coffee, it feels like home.”
Sleeping Beauty runs on the Belgrade’s main stage from Wednesday (28 November) until Saturday 5 January.