Play to the Crowd – the charity that runs Theatre Royal Winchester – announces the cast of this year’s traditional family pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
Sleeping Beauty tells the story of Snorchester where nothing much happens until Princess Rose’s 16th birthday when a wicked curse from the evil Carabosse has the whole kingdom snoozing. Can Princess Rose rely on her dozy friends to help break the spell or will she have to take matters into her own hands?
The theatre’s resident dame, Julian Eardley, returns for his 17thpantomime at the theatre, this time as Queen Nelly. Julian has played numerous roles in the theatre’s panto, including the ugly sister, the widow, the cowardly lion, countless dames, the fairy godmother, once a princess, and now finally, a queen, which he is thrilled about!
Bronte Alice-Tadman also returns for her third pantomime at the theatre, having played Cinderella in 2016 and Demon Vice in Mother Goose in 2024.Bronte plays the panto villain again this year, as Carabosse. Bronte has also acted in the West End, including in Stranger Things: The First Show, plus in adaptations of the likes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wind in the Willows and Ben Hur. Bronte has also appeared in the BBC’s Call the Midwife.
Princess Rose will be played by Yasmin Panditaratne, a recent graduate of BIRD Conservatoire.
Prince Charming will be played by Felix Price who grew up in Winchester and steps back onto Theatre Royal Winchester’s stage having previously performed on it as a member of the theatre’s youth theatre and Encore Youth Theatre. Since graduating in 2022, Felix has performed at King’s Head Theatre Off-West End and Buxton Opera House.
Fairy Tick Tock will be played by Evie James who has mostly worked in comedy and family theatre including in Pirates Love Underpants, Teletubbies Live and Peppa Pig: My First Concert. She is also Choreographer and Assistant Director for The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company.
Muddles will be played by Stanton Wright who has performed in the UK tours of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Kite Runner, plus in adaptations of the likes of Great Expectations, Twelfth Night, and Pictures of Dorian Gray, and in short films.
Sleeping Beauty also welcomes back Jack Oliveras Acting Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy. Jack has spent his life performing in local theatre and films or teaching children, acting, singing and dancing. This will be his fifth consecutive panto at the theatre.
Mazey Rogers also returns, this year as Ensemble Captain and Understudy. Mazey started her panto life in the theatre’s Community Ensemble alongside Jack. This will be her fourth consecutive panto at the theatre.
The cast will be accompanied by a community ensemble starring Lottie Acton, Lucy Baxter, Evelyn Biggerstaff, Sophia Courtney, Eloise Dyer, Preston Gritt, Mia Haimes, Megan Hinton, Eden Hunt, Sophie Keeling, Kiernan Wagstaffe, and Zoe Reed.
Theatre Royal Winchester’s annual pantomime is suitable for all ages and is full of original songs, live music, plenty of audience participation and mayhem! There will be a number of accessible performances, including relaxed, audio-described and BSL-interpreted, and the option to livestream at home.
Sleeping Beauty will be at Theatre Royal Winchester from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at various times. For more information, or to book tickets, visit: theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or call 01962 840 440.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton