The wait is almost over!! Pinocchio starts its festive run at The Georgian Theatre Royal on Friday 2 December and continues through until Sunday 8 January 2023.
This year's pantomime promises to be a fantastic production, full of all the essential ingredients that audiences have come to love – from amazing song and dance routines to laugh-out-loud family comedy. And, of course, there's the usual delicious Tunnock's teacakes and celebrated knitted items!
Leading the cast is Nick O’ Connor as the Dame – Mrs Gepetto. Nick is no stranger to The Georgian's pantomimes and made his debut as the Richmond Dame in last year's production of Beauty and the Beast. Before that, he was the ne'er do well uncle, Abanazar in Aladdin; the unhinged evil fairy Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty and Elvis the 'not so cowardly' lion in The Wizard of Oz.
Another familiar face is Marcus Jones in the title role. In the 2021 production of Beauty and the Beast, he played George Michael lookalike George Gaston for which he was nominated Pantomime's Best Newcomer in the prestigious UK Pantomime Awards – panto's equivalent of the Oscars! He is joined by Ben Andrew as the baddie Stromboli Jones, best known to Richmond audiences as the Beast from last year’s show.
A new face to panto but not the Richmond stage is Sarah Boulter as the Blue Fairy and Laurence Fox. Sarah fell in love with the Georgian Theatre earlier this year when she performed on its historic stage as Gwendolen in a touring production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Completing the line-up is Liam McGrath as Mickity Crickety who is looking forward to adding this pantomime to previous festive productions of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.
Taking up the baton of Musical Director this year is Rachel Blaquiere, a German-born pianist and composer who has plenty of experience of providing musical direction for shows such as Chicago, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins. She is looking forward to her first foray into the British pantomime tradition! Rachel is joined by fellow musician and accomplished drummer and teacher Martin James.
The chorus is made up of three groups of talented young performers from The Georgian Theatre Royal Youth Theatre that has become a mainstay of this popular family-style of pantomime.
Tickets are priced from £13 and are available from the Box Office on 01748 825252 or via the online booking service on this website