The Theatre Royal has announced that one of the UK’s best-loved actresses Harriet Thorpe will take centre stage alongside favourite Jon Monie and acclaimed Dame Nick Wilton in this year’s pantomime.
The cast for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will also feature seven accomplished short actors as the magnificent seven playing the roles of Snow White’s friends and protectors, when the classic fairy-story is staged for only the third time ever in the Theatre Royal’s illustrious pantomime history from Thursday 7th December to Sunday 7th January.
Multi-talented actress Harriet Thorpe brings a wealth of experience to the role of Wicked Queen; not only has she starred as the evil Madame Morrible in Wicked in the West End, she also played the sly Madame Thénardier in Les Miserablés and villainous star baker Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd.
On television, Harriet starred as Carole in the much-loved, long-running sitcom The Brittas Empire for six years and is also well known as Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous.
She has played numerous guest roles in popular drama series ranging from Hollyoaks, The Musketeers, Doctors and The Ruth Rendell Mysteries to The Bill, Goodnight Sweetheart and Midsomer Murders.
Harriet has performed in many comedy series and worked extensively with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, with credits including French and Saunders, Girls on Top, Murder Most Horrid, Alexei Sayle’s Stuff, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Bottom and The Comic Strip.
Earlier this year, Harriet performed Abba’s Dancing Queen alongside her Ab Fab co-star Helen Lederer on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief. Her film work includes Calendar Girls, Life is Sweet, Maurice and Absolutely Fabulous The Movie.
Harriet’s numerous West End roles also include Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Fraulein Kost in Cabaret and the roles of Lottie Child and Patricia Fodor in Crazy for You, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Theatregoers’ Choice Awards.
From hit musicals to drama, amongst her countless theatre credits she originated the role of Ida in Brighton Rock at the Almeida Theatre and her credits at the National Theatre include Great Britain, which transferred to the West End in 2014.
Recently on stage, Harriet originated the role of Marie in the world premiere of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new musical The Girls in 2015 and 2016, and played Her Ladyship in the West End production of The Dresser, alongside Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith, until January 2017.
As part of a diverse career spanning more than 30 years, Christmas 2017 will see Harriet Thorpe make her pantomime debut in Bath. “I feel so fortunate to be able to switch genre from the National Theatre to musicals to a sitcom to a movie and now pantomime!” Harriet said.
Looking forward to playing the Wicked Queen at Bath’s Theatre Royal, she added: “I’m not known for hiding away, quite frankly I like to stand in the centre. I never ever play someone who is remotely normal – they are all crazy!”
Much-loved comedian Jon Monie returns by huge popular demand to play Muddles. A favourite with Theatre Royal audiences having starred in Bath pantomimes regularly since 1996, Jon is an award-winning comedian who has worked as a regular television presenter for both ITV and BBC.
Marking his 16th Christmas show at the Theatre Royal – Jon has delighted panto-goers with his critically acclaimed comic roles in more than 900 performances in Bath previously.
Most recently, he played Wishee Washee in Aladdin in 2016 and Simon Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2015.
As the famous song says ‘there is nothing like a Dame’ and Nick Wilton is one of the best in the business having played the role in theatres across the UK since 2000.
This Christmas, Nick returns to the Theatre Royal’s stage to play Nursie, following his previous memorable roles in Bath pantomimes as Widow Twankey in 2016 and Dame Trott in 2015.
On television, Nick has played the role of Market Inspector Mr Lister as a series regular in EastEnders since 2008. His screen credits also include three years in the BAFTA Award-winning series Carrott’s Lib, and performances in Heartbeat, The Bill, Doc Martin and Casualty.
For children’s television, he has written and appeared in many shows, including playing Mr Seagrove in Big Meg, Little Meg. In 1982 Nick won the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with revue group, Writers Inc. On stage, he has performed in the West End and theatres nationwide.
Also featuring in this year’s pantomime are the delightful young dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance.
Snow White is based on the stories of the Brothers Grimm and was made popular by Disney in 1937 in the first ever feature-length cartoon which became the biggest box office hit of its time.
Returning for only the second time in 25 years, the show has previously been a huge hit with audiences at the Theatre Royal Bath in the 1991/92 and 2012/2013 panto seasons.
When the magic mirror declares Snow White to be ‘the fairest of them all’, her wicked stepmother flies into a jealous rage and demands her death. The beautiful princess is forced to flee to safety at the home of the seven dwarfs, but she is followed by a curious old crone who arrives at the door selling apples.
This magical fairy-tale features all the classic pantomime ingredients; a beautiful princess trying to escape the clutches of a wicked queen and a handsome prince who comes to her rescue.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs follows hot on the heels of last year’s highly acclaimed Bath pantomime Aladdin and is presented by the same creative team, produced by UK Productions and directed by Michael Gattrell with choreography by Danielle Drayton.
Packed with comedy, slapstick, singing, dancing, beautiful costumes and plenty of audience participation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is set to thrill West Country audiences as this traditional family pantomime makes a welcome return to the Bath stage to delight audiences of all ages.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will appear at the Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 7th December 2017 to Sunday 7th January 2018. Tickets are on sale now with an early bird discount for bookings paid for by the end of October.
To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk.
