Panto Cast Revealed!

A Warm Welcome Back to Panto Favourites

Returning to the Theatre Royal Winchester stage is audience favourite Julian Eardley – stepping into the heels of Dame Dolly Duster. This will be Julian’s 16th pantomime with us, having recently delighted audiences as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, the title role in Mother Goose, and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.

Julian is once again joined by his on-stage comedy partner Liam Watson, who plays Colin, the Miller’s down-on-his-luck son. Liam appeared as Jack in last year’s Mother Goose and brings his sharp wit and charm back to Winchester.

Also returning is Andrew Wheaton in the roles of the Miller and Old King Cole. A talented actor-musician, Andrew wowed audiences last year as Squire Squeezum and even channelled Elvis!
 

New Faces Join the Festive Fun

We’re delighted to welcome Jess Lobo to the Theatre Royal Winchester stage as Princess Claribelle – Colin’s royal love interest. Jess brings experience from acclaimed productions including The Jolly Christmas Postman and Sensory Cinders, the West End’s first panto for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

Playing the title character, Puss, is Bekah Selina – a Southampton-based performer with a strong background in musical theatre and recent appearances at the London Palladium and Mayflower Theatre.

Every pantomime needs a proper villain, and this year’s baddie is Fluella Frostbite, an evil sorceress played by Emma Fenney. Emma’s stage work includes Fawlty Towers The Play in the West End, Wuthering Heights, and Twelfth Night.

The cast also features Jack Oliver as Dick, Colin’s brother, and Ogre, and Maria Kyriacou as Tom, Colin’s other sibling, and will also act as a puppeteer. Both performers are part of the vibrant Community Ensemble, which features local talent from across the Winchester area.

Our full Community Ensemble cast includes: Lucy Baxter, Becky Dennis, Mazey Rogers, Mia Haimes, Daisy Hicks, Megan Hinton, Rosie Henson, Lila-Grace Dixey, Preston Gritt and Evelyn Biggerstaff.
 

What to Expect from Puss in Boots

This year’s show promises all the festive fun and magic that Winchester audiences know and love – original songs, corny jokes, live music, and plenty of audience participation.

The story follows Colin, a poor miller’s son with no money, no job and no chance of winning the heart of Princess Claribelle – until his clever cat, Puss, hatches a plan that turns his life upside down. But with the evil Fluella Frostbite threatening their happy ending, Colin and Puss will need all the help they can get!
 

Brought to Life by Top Creative Talent

Puss in Boots has been written and directed by Robin Belfield, with music by Simon Slater. Robin is a theatre director, writer and educator whose directorial credits include the critically acclaimed Twelfth Night and Princess Essex (Shakespeare’s Globe) and Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice (RSC). Simon is an Olivier-nominated composer who has composed the music for the last 15 pantomimes at Theatre Royal Winchester. His recent theatre credits include All’s Well That Ends Well (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse) and Turn of the Screw (Hornchurch).