Sleeping Beauty

Long, long ago, in a far away land, lived a King and Queen. Many years they had longed for a child and finally their wish was granted. A daughter was born and was to be called Aurora. But the king so loved his lovely child, he called her Beauty. A great holiday was proclaimed throughout the kingdom and everyone, including the Fairies came to pay homage. The Fairies bestowed the gifts of Goodness, Grace, Charity and Love on the child. The evil Fairy Carabosse, – who has not been invited appears and puts a curse upon Beauty, that before her eighteenth birthday she shall prick her finger on a Spinning Wheel and die. Many sad and lonely years pass by until Carabosse does indeed trick Beauty into pricking her finger on a Spinning Wheel and she dies. The Good Fairy Rosebud is able to reverse the curse, and sends Beauty and the entire Court into a deep sleep. She can only be awakened by the tender kiss of the handsome Prince she had earlier met in the forest. An enchanting and exciting tale for the whole family. Highlighted by the antics of Dame Dotty Diddley Doo, and the Court Jester, Silly Billy.With singing , dancing, comedy, and music. Together with sparkling sets and costumes.
Everything you have come to expect from the traditional family panto at the Garrick Playhouse.

This production is proudly sponsored by

Production Photographs by Vish Sharma

CAST

• Fairy Rosebud – Beverely Stuart-Cole
• Carabosse – Hannah Williams
• Freddie King of Hearts – Dave Midgely
• Prince Florizel – Olivia Callaghan
• Princess Beauty – Lara Hancox
• Nurse Dotty Diddly Doo – Steve Connolly
• Silly Billy – Liam Dodd
• Charlie the Monkey – Miranda Watkins
• The Young Prince Florizel – Flora Beazley/Eve Joseph
• The Young Princess Beauty – Ella Weipers/Freya Shaw
• The Pantomime Dancers : Rodina Peachey, Lydia Levington, Hannah Moores, Cara Quine, Darcy Whittingham, Georgia Geupel, Elena Polychronakis, Fern Hayward, Flora Beazley, Eve Joseph, Ella Weipers, Freya Shaw

REVIEW by Julia Taylor for Sale and Altrincham Messenger 

The Garrick provides family entertainment with Sleeping Beauty

You know that any panto written and directed by Alan Clements will be a good one and Sleeping Beauty at the Garrick is no exception. Don’t sit on the front row. Dave, a member of the audience, made that mistake and ended up with the Dame, Nurse Dotty Diddly Doo testing him with a stethoscope! The Dame, played by Steve Connolly and Silly Billy (Liam Dodd), described as ?One magic wand short of a spell skilfully dance around a balloon. There are 12 real dancers too. They excel in the Land of Dreams scene. The story is about a King and Queen, who after many childless years, have a baby daughter, Beauty. Sadly the Queen dies but the King (Dave Midgely) perks up for the Christening Party. The fairies bestow the child with Goodness, Grace, Charity and Love. When the uninvited fairy, Carabosse, appears, she curses the Princess saying that on her 18th birthday, Beauty will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Good Fairy Rosebud changes this by predicting the Princess and the Court will just fall asleep until a Prince kisses Beauty awake. Both the fairies are outstanding. Beverley Stuart-Cole’s Fairy Rosebud is seldom off stage as she waves her wand for good. Hannah Williams, a force for evil, gets her share of boos. Prince Florizel (Olivia Callaghan) and Princess Beauty (Lara Hancox) sing a lovely duet and, later, all ends happily. This is a family panto,  no smutty jokes,  and Mike Shaw and his team’s costumes add to the effect. Star rating ★★★★