SLEEPING BEAUTY Announced as 2016 Christmas Pantomime

Hackney Empire has announced Sleeping Beauty as its 2016 Christmas pantomime. Following the success of last year's ground breaking production of Jack and the Beanstalk, which was seen by 54,812 people not just from all over London but all over the world (including Japan, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand), tickets for Sleeping Beauty go on sale today, with casting still to be announced.

Welcome to enchanted Hackneytopia; a land of fairies, unicorns and dragons where once upon a time, a princess is born. Spurned at the celebration party, malevolent wicked fairy Carabosse casts an evil spell which changes the Princess's life forever. Will Princess Aurora take charge of her own destiny?

Susie McKenna said: I'm really excited to be able to add a 7th title to the Hackney Empire pantomime cycle. I have been wanting to tell a new version of this Fairytale for a while and I'm planning that our Warrior Princess takes hold of her own destiny. All the well-known characters will be there together with a couple of new ones and, as usual, we will be putting a very Hackney and London slant on it all!

Sleeping Beauty will be Susie McKenna's and Steve Edis' 18th Hackney pantomime. From starting as principle boy in Nottingham Playhouse pantomimes, Susie is now Creative Director of Hackney Empire and has written and directed every Christmas show and critically acclaimed pantomime since 1998. Her most recent directing credits include The Silver Sword, a musical adaptation of Ian Serraillier's novel, written by Susie and Steve Edis which opened at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry before touring for 7 weeks. Other credits include Blues in the Night, A Midsummer Night's Madness (Hackney Empire, New York and Edinburgh Festival), La Varieté, Once on This Island (Hackney Empire), Sit and Shiver (assisting Steven Berkoff), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre, London), Once on this Island (Hackney Empire, Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse). She was recently nominated for the League of Professional Theatre Women's Guild/Coigney International Theatre Award for developing international links. Susie has also worked as an actress for over 30 years. Her acting credits include Chicago, Cats and The Witches of Eastwick in the West End and national tours of Hair, The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Steven Edis returns once again as musical composer to create a magical mix of musical mash-ups, chart remixes and an original score. Steven has worked with the National Theatre, in the West End and on a variety of prestigious projects as composer, arranger and orchestrator. Credits include The Captain of Kopenick (National Theatre), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre), A Chorus of Disapproval, Flarepath and Birdsong for the West End. Steven brings his vast experience to create a musical score that rivals a West End musical.

SLEEPING BEAUTY
A Hackney Empire Pantomime
Press Night: 1st December 2016, 7pm
Written and Directed by Susie McKenna
Music: Steven Edis
Design: Lotte Collett

Performances
Sat 26 Nov 2016 - Sun 8 Jan 2017

Tickets prices
Tickets from £10 - £36
Early bird offer: Book and pay before 30 Sept and receive best available seats for just £17.50 a ticket. At selected performances, limited number of tickets and subject to availability.
Schools tickets £10 if booked before end of September.

Signed Performances
Saturday 10th December at 1pm and 6pm and Thursday 15th December at 1.30pm and 7pm

Relaxed Performance
Saturday 10th December at 1pm
Box Office: 020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk

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