| Sleeping Beauty | |
[[File:.jpg) Sleeping Beauty promotional image | |
| Dates | 15-29 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | The Tower Theatre |
| Director | John Pritchard and Michelle Hartley |
| Producer | Merewyn Forrest, Myra Collingridge and 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 Itlaian 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 the,
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
- Isabella Cowell as Princess Beauty
- Sophia Jones as Princess Beauty
- John Pritchard as Nurse Edna
- Adam Button as Chester the Jester
- Alex Ezrati as Prince Antonio
- Natalie Hubbard as Carabosse, The Evil Fairy
- Graham Burgess as The King
- Kelly Hayes as The Queen
- Georgia Smith as Lilac Fairy
- Holly Leggett as Poppy Fairy
- Eleanor Prineas as Fuchsia Fairy
- Ruby Stone as Fuchsia Fairy and Ensemble
- David Savage as Lemy
- Pauline Gullidge as Adult Ensemble
- Karen Prineas as Adult Ensemble
- Trish Smith as Adult Ensemble
- George Perkins as Adult Ensemble
- Ben Prineas as Herald and Guard - Team A
- Jack Willcox as Herald and Guard - Team B
Producton Team
- Directors: John Pritchard and Michelle Hartley
- Producers: Merewyn Forrest, Myra Collingridge and Paul Milton
- Musical Director: Andy Hartley
- Choreographer: Claire Beddow
- Video and Sound Engineer: Pete Brown
- Lighting Designer: Dan Smith
- Set Design: Ben Laverty, Pete Brown and John Pritchard
- Stage Manager: Jayden Lewis
- Deputy Stage Manager: Joe Simes
- Keys and Percussion: Andy Hartley and Jamie Crompton
- Props: Myra Collingridge, Hannah Manton, Paul Milton, Rebecca Pyburn, Caroline Dowling and Julie Morrow
- Costumes: Wendy Allum, Liz Rutland, Pam Morris, Christine Hoveman and Sam Mills
- Dame Dressers: Wendy Allum, Liz Rutland, Pam Morris, Christine Hoveman, Merewyn Forrest and Sam Mills
- Graphic Design / Media: Malcolm Laye, Reana Herchenhan and Merewyn Forrest
- Set Construction: Keith Woollett, Adam Button, Andy Hartley, Colin Sawyer and Glen Hayden-Selfridge
- Set Painting: Sophie Martin, Kerene Hawley and Myra Collingridge
- Backstage Crew: Ben Laverty, Kian Lewis, Luke Martin, Paul Groves, Josh McGrath, Riley Ludlum, Cam Clark, Charlie Mortell, Keira Hancock-Woods, Colin Sawyer and Jayden Smith
- Photography: Dave Shackle and Pete Brown
For The Tower Theatre
- General Manager: John Pritchard
- Events/Marketing Manager: Reana Herchenhan
- Technical Manager: Ben Laverty
- Duty Manager: Gary Ingoldby-Spate
- Box Office and Admin: Michelle Hartley
Thanks
A special thank you 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.