A comic panto spin on the Sleeping Beauty tale with songs, satire, and audience interaction.
This seasonal staging revisits the classic fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, reimagined as a traditional British pantomime. Set around the familiar tale of a cursed princess who falls into an enchanted sleep, the production combines comic set pieces, musical interludes, and topical humour. The story is told through a panto framework, featuring exaggerated characters, audience interaction, and elements of satire typical of the genre.
Leading the cast is Catherine Tate (Doctor Who, The Catherine Tate Show) as the wicked Carabosse, joined by longtime Palladium pantomime performer Julian Clary and impressionist Jon Culshaw (Dead Ringers). Also returning are Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, and Rob Madge, with West End performers Emily Lane (Wicked) and Amonik Melaco. This marks the tenth consecutive Christmas pantomime at The London Palladium since its revival in 2016.
Michael Harrison, who both produces and directs the show, continues his longstanding collaboration with Crossroads Pantomimes. The creative team includes set designer Mark Walters, costume designers Hugh Durrant, Teresa Nalton, and Mike Coltman, choreographer Karen Bruce, and composer/orchestrator Gary Hind. Visual effects are provided by The Twins FX, with sound by Matt Peploe and lighting by Ben Cracknell.