Experience the magic of Sleeping Beauty at The Atkinson Southport this Christmas

With just 14 weeks until Christmas, the cast of Sleeping Beauty are gearing up to bring festive cheer to The Atkinson in Southport!

Running from 6 – 31 December, Sleeping Beauty will star Blue Peter presenter and TikTok sensation, Joel M, making his pantomime debut.

Joel takes on the role of Presto the Court Jester, showcasing his magical abilities and engaging stage presence to bring extra sparkle and enchantment to his pantomime debut.

With a combination of pantomime classics and captivating illusions, this festive show promises an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Joel said:

“I’m so excited to be appearing in my first ever pantomime, it’s going to be great fun! I have always loved watching pantomimes and getting caught up in all the festive fun so to be in one will just be amazing. I am looking forward to spending the run up to Christmas in Southport and getting to know the audiences and entertaining them with some of my tricks and illusions.

“A panto is a really good chance for the audience to switch off and get caught up in the festive spirit – a couple of hours of singing, booing and spending time with family and friends. I can’t wait to be part of that!”

Joel completes an impressive ensemble, which includes newly cast Prince Lancelot, Exaucé Yagi, a graduate of the renowned Brit School for performing and creative arts.

They will be joined by Terry Burns, who was a hit with the Southport crowd last Christmas in his role as Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk, while Samantha Richards, fresh from the Zog and the Flying Doctors UK Tour, takes on the role of Princess Beauty. The side-splitting James Stirling steps into the role of The King and the devilishly brilliant Coral Mourant plays the villain, Carabosse.

Marie Kenny, Programme Manager at The Atkinson, said:

“We are delighted to welcome KD Theatre Productions back for this year’s panto as they were a real hit with the audiences last year.

‘Families and communities from across Sefton come together at The Atkinson to enjoy our traditional Christmas pantomime, and it’s a privilege to welcome them into our Theatre.

“We are sure that people will love Sleeping Beauty and all the fun that it brings to the Festive period.”

The Atkinson and KD Theatre Productions are committed to making theatre accessible to everyone. This year’s pantomime will feature relaxed and captioned performances to ensure that everyone can enjoy the magic of live theatre in a comfortable and accommodating environment.

Sleeping Beauty promises laughter, wonder and a touch of magic for the entire family. The traditional family panto, based in Southportopia, will transport the audience to a winter wonderland where a beautiful princess awaits her true love’s kiss to wake her from a deep slumber.

But the wicked fairy has other ideas and will be booed and hissed at while we wait to see if the prince will triumph.

“We are thrilled to be back at The Atkinson for the second year running and to have Joel M join us for this year’s production,” said Daniel Bell, Managing Director at KD Theatre Productions. “His incredible talent and connection with audiences make him the perfect fit for our show. We are sure that this will be an enchanting experience that families will cherish.”

Daniel returns as the writer for the pantomime, with direction and choreography led by Katherine Hickmott. KD Theatre Productions is known for creating engaging, family-friendly shows that captivate audiences of all ages. Their focus on inclusivity and entertainment ensures memorable performances that bring stories vividly to life on stage.