Will Brenton News

Hackney Empire has released the first rehearsal images from its 2025 pantomime, Cinderella, directed by Clive Rowe. Check out the photos and learn more here!

For its 25th pantomime, the Hackney Empire is putting on Dick Whittington and His Cat, directed by and starring Clive Row, who has been the resident Dame of the Hackney Empire for years. This particular production of Dick Whittington has been written by Will Brenton with original music and songs by Steve Edis and stars Kandaka Moore as the titular Whittington and Kat B as Tommy the Cat.

Supernatural expert and podcaster Danny Robins is set to explore the otherworldly as he hosts Fright Night, an exclusive one-off event held at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 30 October 2025.

The full casting and creative team have been announced for Hackney Empire's 25th pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat. 

All new rehearsal photos have been released from Aladdin, the 24th annual pantomime running at Hackney Empire from Saturday 18 November to Sunday 31 December.

Manchester’s landmark new cultural venue, Aviva Studios, the permanent home of Factory International, officially opens today (18 October 2023) with the world premiere of Free Your Mind, a large-scale immersive performance based on The Matrix.

Full casting has been announced for Aladdin, the 24th annual pantomime running at Hackney Empire from Saturday 18 November to Sunday 31 December, with a press performance at 7pm on Thursday 30 November. Check out all new photos of the cast here!

Hackney Empire has released behind-the-scenes rehearsal images for its Christmas pantomime Mother Goose as previews begin on 19 November.

Hackney Empire has announced the cast and creative team for their Christmas 2022 pantomime, Mother Goose, which opens on 19th November, running until 31st December.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has released production photos for this year’s spectacular family pantomime CINDERELLA which plays until Sunday 9 January 2022.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre invites you inside the rehearsal room with exclusive new rehearsal photographs for this year’s spectacular family pantomime CINDERELLA from Saturday 4 December 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022.  

The previously announced AJ and Curtis Pritchard (Prince Charming and Dandini), Denise Pearson (Fairy Godmother) and Evie Pickerill (Cinderella) are joined by Tam Ryan (Buttons), Ian Adams (Dame Penny Pockets), Ella Biddlecombe and Britt Lenting (Wicked Stepsisters) and Julie Stark (Wicked Stepmother).

Cinderella delivers a true family pantomime that mixes spectacular sets and costumes with plenty of laughs in a show that doesn't push back any boundaries, but delivers what its audience wants at Christmas.

British actor Rory Maguire will star as Dennis in Selladoor Family and Beano Studios' new stage production Dennis & Gnasher The Musical! which opens on 23 January 2020 at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury before embarking on a UK tour throughout 2020.

Selladoor Family and Beano Studios are delighted to announce that their all new musical stage production Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed! will open on 23 January 2020 at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury before embarking on a year-long UK tour throughout 2020.

Beano Studios is teaming up with award-winning production company Selladoor to create an all new musical stage production based on hit TV show Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!

The Tale of Mr Tumble will be a funny, engaging and visually exciting show that will give children the chance to see Mr Tumble live and up close as he and his family share some of their fondest memories.

Justin Fletcher, known to millions as CBeebies Mr Tumble, will be joined by Ronni Ancona as Miss Eerie. Other cast members will include Samuel Buttery, Samantha Dorrance, Connor Elliott, Lizzie Franks, Tom Mackley, Nicholas McLean, Samuel Parker, Katia Sartini, Kai Savage and Ben Stock. The company will be joined on stage by a Makaton signing choir who will perform alongside their hero Mr Tumble.