The Theatre Royal in Bath will host Aladdin as its enchanting pantomime this Christmas, starring family favourites including Emmerdale star Tom Lister, Jon Monie and EastEnders’ Nick Wilton.
Kaysha Nada as Princess Jasmine, Alex Aram as Aladdin, Tom Lister as Abanazar, Jon Monie as Wishee Washee and Nick Wilton as Widow Twankey | Photo © Freia Turland
West End star Tom Lister plays Abanazar, alongside Jon Monie as Wishee Washee and Nick Wilton as Dame Widow Twankey.
Staged by UK Productions for the 2022 festive season, the traditional family show appears from Thursday 8th December to Sunday 8th January.
Set to entertain both the young and the young at heart, Aladdin features a brand new script, penned by panto legend Jon Monie.
Families visiting the Theatre Royal this Christmas can look forward to a performance featuring comedy, singing, dancing, slapstick, special effects, beautiful costumes and plenty of audience participation.
Producer of the pantomime, Martin Dodd, said: “Aladdin is one of the best, most beloved stories and it offers a great take on the idea of achieving your dreams.
“It’s colourful and bright and, with a new script, there are plenty of surprises in store.”
Award-winning panto baddie Tom Lister stars as one of theatre’s favourite villains, Abanazar.
Tom is well known on television as Carl King, a role he played for nine years in Emmerdale before making a dramatic exit in 2012.
His screen credits also include Doctors, Heartbeat, The Bill and The Doll Maker.
When he played Captain Hook, Tom won Best Villain at the Great British Pantomime Awards in 2017; a role he reprised in 2021 at Malvern Theatres in The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, written by Jon Monie.
Tom said: “Playing the villain is great because the audience boo you every time you come on and I like to get a nice little mix between the children hating you whilst not terrifying them.
“You turn the comedy up as much as you can, so even though they hate you coming on they also love it because of the silliness and laughter that ensues.”
Bath favourite Jon Monie returns by popular demand to play Wishee Washee. Jon first appeared in Bath’s celebrated pantomimes in 1996 and has now performed at the Theatre Royal well over 1,100 times.
This Christmas marks his 20th panto season. Pantomimes penned by Jon are staged in theatres nationwide, produced by UK Productions.
He also wrote Bath’s 2021 pantomime Cinderella and starred as Buttons. His panto Beauty and the Beast, which played Bath in 2019/2020, starring Jon in the role of Louis La Plonk, won Best Script at the Great British Pantomime Awards.
Having written the show, as well as starring in it, Jon said: “There are lots of new jokes. There’s been so much going on in the news this year that it’s a gift for comedy writers.
“There are references galore and hopefully we’ll put a smile on people’s faces whether they’re eight, 18 or 80.”
Nick Wilton makes a welcome return to Bath to play Widow Twankey. One of the best Dames in the business, Nick has starred in the iconic pantomime role in theatres across the UK since 2000.
He has previously delighted Bath audiences as Polly La Plonk in Beauty and the Beast in 2019, Nursie in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2017, Widow Twankey in Aladdin in 2016 and Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2015.
On television, Nick has played Market Inspector Mr Lister as a series regular in EastEnders since 2008. His screen credits also include Carrott’s Lib, Heartbeat, Doc Martin, The Bill, Casualty and the children’s show Big Meg, Little Meg.
Nick said: “I love the fact that as always in Bath it’s very much a theatre panto, it’s traditional and very story-led, and there’s always a wonderful and warm atmosphere at the Theatre Royal.”
The cast for Aladdin also features Alex Aram as Aladdin, Kaysha Nada as Princess Jasmine, Amy Perry as Spirit of the Ring and Maddison Tyson as the Genie.
Playing the role of Emperor, Michael Chance returns to Bath after playing Baron Hardup at the Theatre Royal last year in Cinderella.
Alongside the company of professional actors, this year’s pantomime features young dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance.
Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.
