Sleeping Beauty is a dream of a pantomime, but even more so for actor Tom Mann who is set to play the Prince in this year’s home produced family panto at Lighthouse Poole.
Having auditioned to play the Prince three years ago in Beauty and the Beast, Tom went on to all but steal the show as Cupid. So, it was only a matter of time before he came back to Lighthouse.
This time he’s playing Prince Ken, who delivers the all-important kiss that awakens Princess Rose (Beauty, played by Isabella Kibble) from her spellbound slumber.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to be back,” he grins. “A lot of princes in pantomimes are there to be the love interest and that’s all, whereas this Prince has got a bit more to him.”
Written and directed by CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, who will also appear as Dame Nanny Nutkins, Sleeping Beauty is produced by the same in-house team that has delivered award-winning hit pantomimes in recent years including last year’s Aladdin, as well as Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, with production designer James Smith, choreographer Daniel Donaldson Todd and music director Adam Tuffrey.
“That’s what’s so nice about the Poole panto – because it’s produced in-house it gives Chris, as the writer, more chance to have fun and experiment with what panto is; to have fun with the characters.
“The last time I was here, as an actor I just felt so looked after, that’s what made it so brilliant. That’s what Lighthouse does, so I was really happy to come back. I can’t wait to get started!”
Tom will join EastEnders and Grange Hill star Todd Carty who will play King Tucker in Sleeping Beauty with West End actress Isabella Kibble as Beauty and Melaina Pecorini (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Fairy Sunbeam. Further casting announcements will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Sleeping Beauty opens on Thursday 12 December and runs until Sunday 5 January. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/sleeping-beauty/, or call 01202 280000.
(NC)