Having raised the roof in Aladdin last year, Josh Haberfield is thrilled to be coming back in Sleeping Beauty, this year’s home produced family panto at Lighthouse Poole.
Josh was a huge hit in the comic role in Aladdin, last year’s award-winning Lighthouse panto, and was eager to work with the same production team again with CBeebies favourite Chris Jarvis – who also wrote and directs the show – alongside production designer James Smith, choreographer Daniel Donaldson Todd and musical director Adam Tuffrey.
“It’s going to be an absolute blast,” says Josh. “I had a great time last year, a real combination of a lovely place to work, a really good team and just feeling like the show was exactly the sort of show that I want to be involved with.”
Josh will be playing Happy Harry who, with his mum Nanny Nutkins, has been charged with looking after Princess Rose in their cottage on Brownsea Island by the father King Tucker.
“I’m really excited because Chris has really written the part for me this year, which is lovely. For him to go: ‘Actually, I believe in what you want to bring to this’, to be encouraged, that’s a real treat. So you can expect all of the usual panto shenanigans from Harry – he’s the audience’s best friend and the kids’ best friend, but then he’s full of double entendre, although in quite a sophisticated way.”
Josh will join EastEnders and Grange Hill star Todd Carty as King Tucker and Chris Jarvis as Dame Nanny Nutkins, with experienced solo performer Sarah-Louise Young as Carabosse the bad fairy. Rising star Tom Mann is coming back to Lighthouse to play Prince Ken after appearing as Cupid in Beauty and the Beast three years ago, while West End players Isabella Kibble (Witness for the Prosecution) as Beauty and Melaina Pecorini (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Fairy Sunbeam complete the principal cast.
Sleeping Beauty opens on Thursday 12 December and runs until Sunday 5 January. Tickets are on sale now at www.lighthousepoole.co.uk, or call 01202 280000.
(NC)