We're excited to reveal the cast of our 2024 winter pantomime, Dick Whittington!
Dick Whittington will open on 2 December and complete a month’s run, closing on 31 December 2024.
Our Director/Choreographer Rachel Gee will bring together a cast of seven to craft a pantomime that will prove to be the perfect introduction to theatre for children and families.
Dick Whittington is down on his luck. So one day he decides to embark on an epic quest. He's heard the streets of London are paved with gold, so along with his loveable cat, he sets off from Huddersfield to seek his fame and fortune...
This magical Christmas theatre show has a hiss-terical script and toe-tapping mew-sical numbers. Be blown away by dazzling costumes and spellbinding effects. Come join Dick and his cat for this rags to riches adventure!
Playing the title role in his pantomime debut is Reece Carter (Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Nottingham Playhouse, The Princess and the Sprout – Wrongsemble)
The remaining six roles are filled by the pantomime’s familiar faces from previous years. Playing Dick Whittington’s nemesis is Alyce Liburd (A Leap in the Dark – New Vic, Dracula: The Bloody Truth – Stephen Joseph/Bolton Octagon, Sleeping Beauty – The Dukes) in the role of Virminia Queen of the Rats. Opposite her in the role of Bowbells is one half of last years ugly sisters James McLean (The Great Gatsby – Chester Storyhouse, Much Ado About Nothing – Northern Broadsides). Last years other ugly sister Pete Toon (A Kick in the Boubles – Hull Truck, The Tempest – Northern Broadsides) returns to the role of Dame as Sherrie Trifle. Shorelle Hepkin (Robin Hood – Oldham Coliseum, Little Red – Page 2 Stage) returns as the feline sidekick Meowly Cyrus. Sonia Wrightson (Pick ‘n’ Mix – Leeds Playhouse, If All The World Were – Tutti Frutti Productions) returns as Alice Fitzwarren and playing her brother is long time cast member Thomas Cotran (One Man Two Govnors – New Vic, A Midsummer Nights Dream – Chester Storyhouse, Red Sky at Night – Mikron Theatre Company) as Idle Jack.
Our award-winning pantomime is produced by the team here at Lawrence Batley Theatre and sees the return of creatives including Musical Director Robert Cooper, Lighting Designer Chris Brearley and Sound Designer Jonathan Hudson. Writer Andrew Pollard returns to bring a familiar dash of magic to the script. And the trusty pair of hands Rachel Gee returns to lead the creative team as Director/Choreographer for Dick Whittington. From the in-house team Becky Dash is Producer, with Olivia Race as Creative Producer/Assistant Director, and Keisha Hamilton as Assistant Choreographer.
Our Chief Executive Becky Dash said, "Our pantomime is the time of the year that we can really make a true Lawrence Batley Theatre grown show for our stage. It’s vital to us that our audiences, young and old, can see and hear themselves represented on our stage. Yet again, all of our cast members have natural regional accents, local to our theatre. We are so proud to be trusted by families to introduce their children to the wonder of live performance and pleased to welcome back audiences who have made visiting our pantomime their annual tradition.”
