Press Contact: Megan Stone
31 May 2024
Theatre Royal Plymouth and Crossroads Pantomimes have today (Friday 31 May) announced star casting for this year’s enchanting family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Birds of a Feather’s Lesley Joseph will star as The Wicked Queen, with broadcaster and barrister Rob Rinder as The Man In The Mirror, comedian Andy Ford as Muddles and West End stars Samuel Holmes and Scott Maurice as The Governess and The Prince.
Lesley Joseph celebrates a career which has seen her appear on stage in dramas, musicals, and revues in the West End, across the UK and on every major television channel. Lesley starred as Miss Hannigan in Annie, Mrs Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie as well as appearing in Home, directed by Peter Hall. In 2018, she appeared in the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in London’s West End as Frau Blücher, a role for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. No stranger to pantomime, Lesley’s annual panto appearances receive critical acclaim every festive season.
Rob Rinder has been on our TV’s entertaining us for years. Beginning his career as ‘Judge Rinder’, later moving to critically acclaimed documentaries while winning BAFTAs along the way. His documentary series My Family, The Holocaust, and Me aired to wide critical acclaim and in 2020 Rob was awarded an MBE for his services to Holocaust education and an honorary doctorate for his legal work. Most recently, Rob paired up with Rylan and together they retraced footsteps of cultural greats across Italy in the hilarious and heart-warming Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour for BBC Two. Inspired by his experiences as a barrister, Rob’s debut novel, a clever and twisty ‘whodunnit’, The Trial, became an instant Sunday Times No.1 bestseller, leaving fans eager for his second novel The Suspect, coming out this summer. Putting his own spin on the notorious, cunning Captain Hook in Peter Pan last year in Southend, Rob’s back on the stage to reprise his role as The Man in The Mirror in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
One of pantomime’s most successful comedians, Andy Ford makes a welcome return to Plymouth, having last starred at TRP in Robinson Crusoe in the 2020/21 panto season. Andy has appeared on stages across the UK entertaining thousands of theatregoers with his quick-wit, physical routines and humour, winning rave-reviews and legions of fans wherever he performs.
The lineup is completed by West End star Samuel Holmes, who returns to Plymouth following a triumphant season in Goldilocks and the Three Bears last Christmas. Holmes’ musical stage credits include Curtains, Shrek the Musical, Mrs Henderson Presents, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Water Babies, Spamalot, Kiss Me Kate, Crazy for You, My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance and The Spirit of Broadway. He will appear alongside Scott Maurice whose West End credits include The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, Ghost The Musical, Thriller Live! and Never Forget.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be spectacularly brought to life with an abundance of comedy, sensational song and dance numbers, fabulous costumes and stunning scenery. Throw in a magical mirror, the magnificent seven and plenty of audience participation and you have the perfect recipe to outwit The Wicked Queen and let love prevail in this glittering festive treat for all ages.
With amazing special effects, stunning sets and beautiful costumes direct from The London Palladium, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will take your whole family on a spellbinding panto adventure like never before!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer, and the team behind last year’s production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Crossroads Pantomimes, whose Chief Executive, Michael Harrison, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to announce such a sensational lineup for our Theatre Royal Plymouth pantomime. With the outstanding comic talent revealed today, a brilliant script in development, and our stunning sets and costumes from The London Palladium production, this will certainly be the fairest panto of them all!”
James Mackenzie-Blackman, CEO & Executive Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “We’re delighted with our line-up for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this Christmas. I’m delighted that the company is led by panto’ royalty Lesley Joseph and that she is joined by Andy and Samuel returning to Plymouth. We’re looking forward to welcoming Rob and Scott to our city, but most of all sharing this spectacular show with our audiences.”
Mirror, mirror on the wall, don’t miss the fairest pantomime of them all! Tickets are on sale now for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which runs from Friday 13 December 2024 to Saturday 11 January 2025.
Further casting will be announced later in the year.