With a proud track record of delivering award winning in-house pantomimes in recent years, Lighthouse Poole is fast becoming a proving ground for rising talent.
Last year’s production of Aladdin saw panto debutant Benjamin Armstrong, in the title role, named Best Newcomer at the annual Panto Awards; while 2022’s production of Cinderella saw Andrew Pollard and Alim Jadavji named Best Sisters and Lauren Azania nominated as Best Magical Being as Sir Ian McKellen in Mother Goose narrowly pipped it to the Best Panto award.
This growing reputation was reflected in the standard of dancers that auditioned for the young ensemble in this year’s production of Sleeping Beauty, says Lighthouse Chief Executive Elspeth McBain.
“The young dancers that came to our open auditions were incredibly talented and helped create a real selection headache for the creative team. It took a great deal of thought and some heated discussion to arrive at our final six – three boys and three girls – but we think they’re all ready to take the next step in their careers and I know it will all have been worth it when they take the stage on opening night.”
The ensemble includes Tyler Vandevelde, a Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist this year with Phoenix Boys; Jasmine Taylor and Erin Newport, who both performed last year in Aladdin; with newcomers Sienna Holmes, Mallachy Robinson and Corben Heward-Mills.
EastEnders and Grange Hill star Todd Carty will play King Tucker in Sleeping Beauty at Lighthouse from 12 December until 5 January. Sleeping Beauty is a Lighthouse production from the same team that successfully delivered Aladdin, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast in recent years. Written and directed by CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, who will also play Dame Nanny Nutkins, production design is by James Smith with choreography by Daniel Donaldson Todd and musical direction by Adam Tuffrey.
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/sleeping-beauty/.
(NC)