Cast announced for this year’s Everyman Theatre rock ‘n’ roll panto

This year’s iconic rock ‘n’ roll panto at the Everyman features an ensemble of exceptional performers ready to sing, play, dance and sparkle in Red Riding Hood from Friday 25th November to Saturday 14th January.

Liverpool actor Paislie Reid plays Red Riding Hood, previously a member of Young Everyman Playhouse, she has worked with 20 Stories High, Frantic Assembly and the RSC as well as appearing in two series ofThe Worst Witch on TV.

Grandma Millicent Merry will be played by Ben Welch, who has previously appeared at Nottingham Playhouse in Pinocchio and Elves and the Shoemaker. Lurking in the forest, will be our Wolf, played by Damien James whose numerous credits includes The Play That Goes Wrong, while making a welcome return for his 20^th Everyman rock ‘n’ roll panto is Adam Keast as Ruffles.

The supremely talented company of actor musicians for Red Riding Hood also includes Aminita Francis, previously seen beatboxing at the Everyman in Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster as Cherry Blossom; recent graduate from RADA, Keaton Guimãreas-Tolley as Prince Florizel; and Liverpool musician Jennifer Hynes making her stage debut as Lady Lucille, after being discovered during the open call auditions held earlier in the year. Rebecca Levy and Robert Penny play Lady Lucille’s hench-people, Bodgit and Dodgit; alongside her theatre credits, Rebecca’s debut album How to Keep Your Girlfriend 101reached the top 20 in the iTunes charts, while Robert is a former two-time British National tumbling champion who appeared in The Cat in the Hat at the Playhouse.

Creative Director Suba Das, directing this year’s show said:

“It’s been the absolute highlight of my first six months at the Everyman and Playhouse to assemble the most diverse cast our iconic rock’n’roll panto has ever seen, opening up our stages to even more talent from the North West. The sheer scale of acting, singing, music-making and acrobatics was mind-blowing! We’re all standing by to give the tens of thousands of people who’ve already booked the most magical, musical Christmas and hope everyone will get stuck into the songs and silliness ahead.”

The multi-award-winning Creative Team joining Suba for this year’s show blends the brilliance of past rock n roll pantos with inventive new voices.  Writer Peter Rowe has written eleven record-breaking rock n roll pantos and makes a welcome to Liverpool after 25 years having previously been Artistic Director at the Everyman and most recently at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

Lucy Cullingford was Choreographer for the rock n roll panto back in 2001 and 2002 and has since worked extensively for the RSC, National Theatre and on numerous West End and Broadway shows, including Constellations. The theatres’ resident Sound Designer Ian Davies and Costume Supervisor Jacquie Davies have brought their talents to the panto for the past 14 years.

Designing Red Riding Hood is LIPA Graduate Grace Smart, with credits including work at The Globe, Curve Leicester, Nottingham Playhouse and Donmar Warehouse. Musical Director and Arranger Rob Green is a singer, songwriter, performer and musical director from Nottingham based in Leeds who has toured the UK and Europe performing as a solo artist, supporting the Whitney Houston Hologram Arena Tour and Earth, Wind and Fire on their UK and France Arena Tour. For the first time the rock n roll panto will have a dedicated Circus Director in Jack Horner, who has worked with Cirque Du Soleil and Disney, as well as Moulin Rouge! The Musical in London’s West End.

You might think you know the story of Red Riding Hood, but this is the tale told Everyman style! There will be outlandish and sparkling costumes, plenty of plot twists and surprises, and the show is full to the brim with musical hits performed by a company of supremely talented actor musicians.

Some performances are already sold out, so book soon to be sure of your seats!

Tickets priced £16 to £41, with group and child discounts at selected performances, are available now from the Everyman Theatre website here.