Sleeping Beauty

The story of Sleeping Beauty follows Princess Aurora as she is cursed at birth by the villain Magnificent, who vows she will prick her finger on her 16th birthday. The good fairy softens the curse so Aurora will only sleep until awakened by true love’s kiss. Aurora grows up hidden in the palace under the care of Nurse, Tommy, and her best friend Bella, unaware she is a princess. Meanwhile, Magnificent plots with his dim-witted henchmen Dumb and Dumber to ensure the curse succeeds. Aurora meets Prince Orlando, and they fall for each other just before she discovers her true identity. Magnificent captures the Prince and tricks Aurora into touching a spinning wheel, sending her into a deep sleep. Tommy, Bella, Nurse, and the fairy embark on a chaotic rescue mission, free the prince, and return to wake Aurora. 

Directed by Joseph Lawrence and Sue Wilson, F.C.S.S.E.S’ performance of Sleeping Beauty delivered all the ingredients of a classic pantomime - comedy, chaos, and plenty of charm.  

Thomas York’s Tommy was a bundle of enthusiasm, instantly winning over the audience with his playful silliness and natural rapport. He was perfectly paired with Neil Richardson’s Nurse, whose warm storytelling and quick-witted delivery enchanted the room. James Beil’s Magnificent oozed delicious villainy, working seamlessly alongside his hapless henchmen, Dumb and Dumber (Melissa Morse and Debbie Tasker). Tracey Barker brought a gentle light to counter the darkness of Magnificent as the fairy. Princess Aurora (Jasmine Barker) and Prince Orlando (Amy Harper) offered strong characterisation and confident vocals, shining in their musical numbers. A standout moment came from the trio of would‑be suitors - Jamie Smith as the Prince of Primark, Jon Baish as Lord Liam of Lancashire, and Andrew Weatherill as Duke Donny Tremendous. Their energy, comic timing, and commitment to character had the audience roaring with laughter. 

The principal cast were supported by both junior and senior choruses. The Blue Team of junior performers, threw themselves wholeheartedly into their routines - particularly in “Candyman”. Both choruses looked like they were have fun on stage, performing with confidence and enthusiasm. 

Joseph and Sue’s direction added modern touches to the traditional pantomime. The smart speaker in Magnificant’s lair was a clever, relatable twist especially when it revealed Magnificant’s shopping list! The production was well staged and made good use of the levels available. The cast’s interactions with the audience, including asking children for directions, brought an extra layer of engagement. The scenery and props captured the essence of pantomime, the balloon lollipops for the junior chorus were very effective. The dragon, slain by Princess Aurora, was impressive as was the ultraviolet insect number which was just magical.  

The ensenble’s costumes, handmade by June Johnson, were clearly crafted with care. The matching chorus outfits, each with their own colour, added brightness to the stage. Even the occasional wardrobe mishap, such as Nurse’s wig falling off, became a source of humour, handled well by Neil’s quick-thinking ad‑libs. 

Along with playing the princess, Jasmine Barker provided choreography that suited the abilities of the entire cast. The musical numbers were confidently executed, with not a foot out of place. 

Musical Direction and piano accompaniment by Dominic Winfield, along with Gary Berridge on drums supported the cast well. The musical numbers were clearly known by the cast, though at times a little more harmony could have elevated the numbers further. 

The lighting and sound (Chris Needle and Dave Jones) complemented the production effectively. The sound cues were well timed, helping to maintain the show’s pace. For future productions, microphones for the singers would be beneficial as some vocals were occasionally overpowered by the accompaniement. When the cast were upstage, they could be heard clearly, however, when downstage, when not projecting, some lines were lost. 

Although the prompt was used a couple of times during the performance and a script used on stage at times, it did not detract from the overall performance which was well received by the audience. It was a traditional family friendly pantomime enjoyed by all. 

Well done to all invovled, I’m already looking forward to your next pantomime. 

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