Newark Palace Theatre launches 2025 pantomime Beauty and the Beast, brought to the stage by Jordan Productions

Those of you who ventured into Newark on Friday (September 12) may have seen some bright and bold characters wandering through town, as the annual pantomime launch took place once again.

This year’s festive show will be Beauty and the Beast, brought to the stage by Jordan Productions, which will see the classic ‘tale as old as time’ dazzling audiences from December 5.

To officially launch the pantomime, its cast members took to the streets of Newark to meet the people and bring a touch of sparkle to town.

They even received a VIP welcome from Mayor of Newark Barbara Corrigan, and were able to gate-crash preparations for a wedding set to take place the following day in the town hall.

Playing our heroine is Breanna Bradshaw as Beauty, in her second season as the starring role, and she said that the character has many, many lovely qualities to her.

“She’s very caring and always wants everyone else to be looked after and everyone’s wellbeing is at the forefront of her mind,” she said.

Having never been to Newark before, Breanna said that she’s looking forward to exploring the town, especially over the Christmas period, and spending the festive season with the cast.

“The show is so heart-warming and has a great storyline it follows the traditions of the original story but doesn’t stray too far from that.”

Beauty’s inventor father, Jean Jacques, will be played by Steven Pinder in the pantomime, who has fond memories of coming to play football in Newark with his local team years ago and is looking forward to reacquainting himself with our historic town.

“This is such a beautiful theatre here in Newark and this is my favourite pantomime,” he said, “It’s got everything in it and it’s got some good scary bits, but it’s funny and it’s a good story with a proper beginning, middle, and end.

“It’s a great fairy tale panto and I’ve done it three times, and it works so well and lovely for the girls and boys.”

Donning the enormous bosoms and equally gargantuan dresses will be Chris Aukett as Dame Dorothea or Dotty for short, who is Pierre’s mother.

He promises to bring lots of dame silliness to the stage as Dotty, with lots of fun and antics and audience participation — as well as some slightly cheekier gags that will amuse the parents.

“This show is really lovely and has a nice story line, but it’s also got plenty of silliness,” he said.

“What I love about this show is it’s got a bit of everything, for big kids and little kids.”

Bringing more child-like silliness and laughs will be Adam Shorey as Potty Pierre, who is something of a panto veteran after starring in 14 previous shows, and promised to bring the comedy.

“Pierre will bring plenty of daftness and slapstick humour,” he said, “He’s very silly and the mother-son relationship with Dotty is like no other, and there’s lots of good gags and jokes, and my character will be the kids’ best friend because he’s like a big kid himself.”

Tapping into the child-like energy is also a boost for Adam as he enjoys the school children’s performances the most:

“I’m looking forward to the school performances the most as they’re always fantastic because the kids respond to you as a character and you can really get them onside and they’re really engaged,” he added

Our dashing Prince who finds himself turned into the Beast is played by Northern Ireland native Paul Murdock, who said he is “so excited” to be starring in this show — his first ever pantomime no less.

“I’ve never done a panto before but I’ve always wanted to, it’s such a hoot,” he said, “[The Beast] has quite a good character arch and he really gets put through his paces, and there’s a lot of lessons needed to be learned.

“But will he learn them? We will see!”

Laura Pigott is the glamorous,’tres chic’ Fairy Formidable who promise to bring “lots of magic and sparkle and comedy and laughs”.

“Beauty and the Beast is a real traditional family panto and there’s something for the kids and mums and dads and a bit of everything - its a beautiful tale,” she said.

“I’ve not been to Newark before but I cant wait to explore and see what Newark has to offer, its a beautiful theatre too.”

Be prepared to boo and hiss our baddie, Malevolent, who is played by Daniele Coombe and is “having a hell of a time” — who actually couldn’t be further from her character as she says she’s a very happy, smiley person in real life.

“I’m so excited to be playing a baddie, I’ve never played one before and I’m looking forward to scaring the kids — in a good way!” she said.

Daniele said that she’s been really enjoying spending time in Newark during the show’s rehearsals and as she’s from a similar town herself, she’s “really excited to be here”:

“Everyone said how beautiful the town is and from what I’ve seen so far it’s gorgeous,” she said, “I’m really excited.”

Beauty and the Beast opens at Newark Palace Theatre on December 5 and will run until New Year’s Eve.

Tickets are available at https://www.palacenewark.com/