Press Contact: Megan Stone
21 November 2024
Theatre Royal Plymouth and Crossroads Pantomimes have today (Thurs 21 Nov) announced the full casting for this year’s magical family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Previously announced are Birds of a Feather’s Lesley Joseph who will star as Queen Dragonella, with broadcaster and barrister Rob Rinder as The Man in The Mirror, comedian Andy Ford as Muddles the Court Jester, West End stars Samuel Holmes and Scott Maurice as The Governess and The Prince and The Artist star Briana Craig as Princess Snow White.
Joining the star cast are Snow White’s loyal companions, The Magnificent Seven; Jamie John stars as Professor, Josh Bennett as Cranky, Scott English as Cheery, Craig Salisbury as Sniffy, Abbie Purvis as Silly, Jack Hilton as Nervy, Kyle Herd as Snoozy, with Sarah Bennett as understudy.
The ensemble is made up of Lewis Easter, who is also the Dance Captain, Abigail Chown, George Fryer, Jaya Villier, Dylan McDonald, Maeia Houston, plus Nathan Ryles and Amelie Cohen who return to TRP this festive season after being in the ensemble for Goldilocks and the Three Bears last year.
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.
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, and Briana Craig who was last seen on the Theatre Royal stage as Peppy Miller in The Artist.
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!
Mirror, mirror on the wall, don’t miss the fairest pantomime of them all! Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs from Friday 13 December 2024 to Saturday 11 January 2025.