Sleeping Beauty (2023)

Sleeping Beauty
The Tower Theatre, Folkestone · 49th Annual Pantomime

Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty promotional image
Production Details
Dates	15–29 December 2023
Venue	The Tower Theatre
Director	John Pritchard & Michelle Hartley
Producer	Merewyn Forrest, Myra Collingridge & Paul Milton
Musical Director	Andy Hartley
Choreographer	Claire Beddow

The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society celebrated their 49th year of Christmas pantomimes with a production of Sleeping Beauty on 15–29 December 2023 at The Tower Theatre, Folkestone.

Foreword

This year at The Tower Theatre, FHODS proudly presents Sleeping Beauty. This is the first time we have put on this pantomime at The Tower, and we are greatly looking forward to it! What is the origin of the story of Sleeping Beauty I hear you all cry? The earliest written version dates back to 14th Century France called Perceforest, but other fairy tale versions can be found in the Brothers Grimm stories. Their tale was called The Little Briar Rose. In Giambattista Basile's version of Sleeping Beauty, Sun, Moon, and Talia, the sleeping beauty Talia falls into a deep sleep after getting a splinter of flax in her finger. She is discovered in her castle by a wandering king.

However, this isn't the panto we are putting on this year, as none of us have a clue who Giambattista Basile was, but all wish we had a name as funky as his. It turns out he was an Italian poet and writer, who was chiefly remembered for writing the collection of Neapolitan fairy tales. Although neglected for some time, the work received a great deal of attention after the Brothers Grimm praised it highly, as the first national collection of fairy tales.

We wouldn't be able to put on this production without our fantastic team of Front of House and backstage volunteers, as well as the amazing cast, and I would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of them.

So from all of us, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, and thank you for coming to watch our panto here at The Tower Theatre.

John Pritchard, Theatre Manager & Elf and Safety Officer

Cast

Principal Cast

Isabella Cowell & Sophia Jones Princess Beauty John Pritchard

Adult Ensemble

• Pauline Gullidge Karen Prineas Trish Smith George Perkins

Senior Dancers

• Sophie Martin Ollie Stockley Jessica Louise Wall Taylor Munday Ciara Connors Amber Wilkie-Allan Mia Dyer

Team A Dancers

• Sophia Broom Chase Applebee Chloe Aspinall Hattie Sparks Bethany Giles Tegan Honey Thomas Arnold Lola Smith

Team B Dancers

• Evie Gibson Cerys Connors Danni Vears Annabel Gosford Lucy Harrop Annabelle Gibson Harper Smith Lily Vears

Kids Ensemble — Team A

• Ava Wright Cora Prineas Annabel Prineas Ben Prineas

Kids Ensemble — Team B

• Lyla Giles May Record Jack Willcox Milla-Eve Swarbrick

Production Team

Direction & Music

• Directors – John Pritchard & Michelle Hartley

Musical DirectorProduction

• Producers – Merewyn Forrest, Myra Collingridge & Paul Milton

Stage ManagerDesign & Technical

• Set Design – Ben Laverty, Pete Brown & John Pritchard

Set ConstructionWardrobe & Props

• Costumes – Wendy Allum, Liz Rutland, Pam Morris, Christine Hoveman & Sam Mills

Dame DressersMedia & Marketing

• Graphic Design / Media – Malcolm Laye, Reana Herchenhan & Merewyn Forrest

Photography

For The Tower Theatre

General Manager

John Pritchard Events & Marketing Manager

Special thanks to Karen Prineas and her team of chaperones for giving their time so generously to this production. FHODS extends its thanks to the Front of House volunteers and backstage crew.