The Oxford Playhouse is thrilled to announce this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, opening Friday November 22nd, and running until Sunday January 5th.
A staple of British holiday tradition, pantomime is a family-friendly and highly interactive theatre experience, filled with humour, lively audience participation, and playful banter. Audiences of all ages are encouraged to cheer the heroes and boo the villains, making pantomime a festive delight for everyone.
A Time-Traveling Tale Full of 80s Nostalgia
This adaptation of Sleeping Beauty follows Princess Aurora the Awesome, who, after pricking her finger on a spindle, is transported 1,000 years into the future to 1985. Along her journey, she encounters classic panto heroes and villains, summoning her fairy-given gifts to restore order and reclaim her rightful place in the kingdom of Oxland.
Set to a soundtrack of old and new songs with a generous sprinkle of 80s nostalgia, this toe-tapping extravaganza has something for everyone.
Creative Direction by Toby Hulse
Written and directed by Toby Hulse, Sleeping Beauty marks Hulse’s third collaboration with the Playhouse following his previous hit productions of Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk. Hulse shared his excitement:
“I am thrilled to be returning to the Oxford Playhouse pantomime for the third year running. I had a riot working on Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, and Sleeping Beauty this Christmas promises to be even more fun – a glorious mash up of traditional panto fun with everything you love about the 80s. I am already dusting off my deely boppers…”
Meet the Cast
The cast promises to bring vibrant energy and character to the stage. The line up includes:
- Sophia Lewis as Princess Aurora the Awesome
- Lucy Frederick as Nelly the Nurse (Dame)
- Robin Hemmings as Walter the Wicked (Villain)
- Max Guest as Billy the Silly
- Elliott Wooster as Mark-O
- Daisy Ann Fletcher as Ursula the Unsure
- Tats Nyazika as Roderick the Rigid
- Zoe Antoniou as Janice Short
- Fintan Hayeck as John Rind
A Production Crafted In-House
Oxford Playhouse Artistic Director Mike Tweddle expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s production:
“We are particularly excited for this year’s Playhouse panto. Toby has written a truly magical script, which will be delivered by a creative team made up of many of our staff team. The set is being entirely constructed in our workshop for the first time, and costumes are being designed by our Head of Wardrobe. Working in this way has created a real buzz within the building and we eagerly look forward to presenting a pantomime that feels more our own than ever before.”
Accessible Performances for All
To ensure Sleeping Beauty can be enjoyed by everyone, Oxford Playhouse will offer various accessible performances throughout the run. These include:
- Audio Described Performances: Sat 30 Nov at 4pm, Sat 4 Jan at 2pm
- Relaxed Performances: Thu 5 Dec at 6pm, Fri 3 Jan at 3pm
- BSL Signed Performances: Fri 6 Dec at 10am, Thu 12 Dec at 6pm
- Captioned Performance: Fri 20 Dec at 3pm
- Dementia-Friendly Performance: Thu 2 Jan at 11am
Ticket Information
Tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Oxford Playhouse start at £15. Friends and Patrons of the Oxford Playhouse can enjoy a 25% discount on tickets for select performances. Tickets are available via the Box Office at 01865 305305 or online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com.
With its blend of classic charm, modern flair, and community spirit, Sleeping Beauty at the Oxford Playhouse is a must-see for this festive season!
