After a glittering opening, Oxford Playhouse is delighted to give you a first look at Sleeping Beauty with some brand-new production. The time-travelling, toe-tapping extravaganza plays on the Oxford stage until Sunday 5 January.

The Playhouse will be abuzz again this festive season as thousands of audience members are expected to come through its doors. Known for its traditional family pantomime, this year, Oxford Playhouse has a mighty twist in store!

With all the usual playful pandemonium that has become synonymous with the venue’s panto, this production takes Oxford audiences on an adventure through time. Just like the familiar fairytale goes, Princess Aurora was cursed as a baby and years later pricks her finger on a spindle. However, the consequence of pricking her finger isn’t quite what you’d expect…

Join Princess Aurora the Awesome as she pricks her finger on a spindle and time travels across 1000 years to 1985. Meeting everyone’s favourite loveable (and downright boo-able) panto heroes and villains along the way, she must summon all of her fairy-given gifts to put things right and regain her rightful place in the kingdom of Oxland.

Sophia Lewis plays Princess Aurora the Awesome, Lucy Frederick plays this year’s dame Nelly the Nurse, Robin Hemmings returns as villain Walter the Wicked, joined by Max Guest as Billy the Silly, Elliott Wooster as Mark-O, Daisy Ann Fletcher as Ursula the Unsure, Tats Nyazika as Roderick the Rigid, Zoe Antoniou as Janice Short and Fintan Hayeck as John Rind.

The Oxford Playhouse pantomime is written and directed by Toby Hulse. This marks his third pantomime with the leading regional theatre, after directing Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk in previous years. He said:

“Sleeping Beauty this Christmas promises to be even more fun - a glorious mash up of traditional panto fun with everything you love about the 80s. Dust off your deely-boppers!”

Featuring songs of old and new, including Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO!, there is something for everyone in this year’s toe-tapping extravaganza, sprinkled with 80s nostalgia. Never mind goodnight, this is sure to be the best night.

Joining Toby Hulse on the creative team are Bronia Housman as Set Designer, Steve Allan Jones as Composer and Arranger, Immy Howard as Costume Designer, Chris Humphries as Sound Designer, Rae Piper as Choreographer, Ashley Bale as Head of Production, Will Hayman as Lighting Designer, Leah O’Grady as Production Assistant, and Tanya Jackson as Company Stage Manager.

The Sleeping Beauty band includes Musical Director Bart Thiede, Georgia Ayew (drums) and Lucy Gowen (guitar), all returning after their gigantic success in last year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

Artistic Director of The Playhouse Mike Tweddle said:

“At Oxford Playhouse, we have a long tradition of producing a classic pantomime for the festive period, which has become a much-loved staple in the Oxfordshire theatregoing calendar for all ages.

This year, as Princess Aurora ends up stuck in 1985, it gives us a chance to be bold and celebrate an era of eccentricity and flamboyance, two things that are definitely at the forefront of any panto! Whilst we embrace panto tradition, we’re not afraid to have some fun by making room for the new… Keeping it innovative offers us an opportunity to reach new audiences!

During the 6-week run, over 36,000 audiences come through the doors. It’s a joy seeing so many members of our community and lots of school groups join us for panto, which is often their first experience of theatre.”