A Spellbinding October Set for St Helens Theatre Royal

There's no time to snooze this October, with St Helens Theatre Royal promising a dazzling new production of popular panto Sleeping Beauty to entertain audiences young and old.

The half-term treat, which runs from 21-29 October, is one of a host of brilliant shows being staged at the theatre during the month.

Regal Entertainments' spellbinding pantomime stars Claire Sweeney as the evil fairy Carabosse and Laura Gregory as the princess doomed to sleep for 100 years. Meanwhile LIPA graduate Jess Pritchard plays the Fairy, and Corey Rumble - who appeared in Liverpool-based musical Liver Birdsong last year - is the handsome Prince. Tam Ryan is Chester the Jester.

Sleeping Beauty tells the enchanting tale of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse after failing to receive an invite to the Royal christening, claiming that if the Princess pricks her finger, she will die. Years later at her 16th birthday, Aurora is tricked into piercing her finger on a spinning wheel by the evil fairy. After the curse is countered by the Lilac Fairy, Aurora instead falls into a deep and eternal slumber, which can only be broken by a kiss from her true love.

The magical production is one of two Sleeping Beauties at St Helens during the month, with the acclaimed Vienna Festival Ballet also presenting the classic fairytale on Sunday 8 October.

Meanwhile October starts with a giggle when the hilarious Grumbleweeds bring their Laughter-Noon Show to the theatre on Sunday 1 October, with an afternoon of laughter, music, magic and more.

The Stars of Irish Country Show come to St Helens on Monday 2 October. Four of Ireland's favourites - Mick Flavin, Louise Morrisey, Stephen Smyth and Frank McCaffrey - are appearing on the same bill. Between them they have notched up more than 30 number ones and have toured all over the world.

And there's more laughter guaranteed when the Squire of Knotty Ash and all round National Treasure, Sir Ken Dodd, returns to the Theatre Royal on Thursday 5 October with his hugely popular Happiness Show.

Prepare to be discumknockerated by a truly tattifelarius evening of laughter and songs from opera to ballads.

Sir Ken started his career an amazing 63 years ago, and says: "Right from the start of my career I realised that I loved slaving over hot audiences, and nothing has changed because just as my audiences love a good laugh, I never get tired of entertaining them."

Can you hear the drums Fernando? That will be Thank Abba For the Music arriving in St Helens on Friday 6 October and giving audiences just enough time to put on their platform boots and wriggle in to those white satin flares before joining the party.

It's edge of your seat time when Ginificent Productions presents The Haunting at Greenacre Cottage on Saturday 7 October. Young couple Mark and Stacey head off to a remote cottage in Wales for a well-deserved break with their young baby...but it soon becomes apparent something doesn't want them there.

And sassy disco diva Deloris Van Cartier shimmies on stage from Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 October, as Pilkington Musical Theatre Company presents Sister Act the Musical. When nightclub singer Deloris witnesses a hit by her mob boss boyfriend, the cops hide their chief witness in an unlikely location - a convent, where the unwilling songstress takes control of the woeful nuns' chorus and transforms it in to a brilliant singing group.

Chantelle Nolan, Theatre Manager, said: "The nights may be drawing in now, but that's a great reason to come out and enjoy a brilliant evening out at the theatre. And we have a real mixture of great shows for our audiences during October.

"There's a return of some old friends, like the legendary Doddy, and of course we have our autumn panto to look forward to. We've assembled a really talented cast and can't wait to share such a spellbinding story."

LISTINGS INFORMATION

The Grumbleweeds Laughter Show

Date: Sun, 1 Oct

Time: 2pm

Tickets: Adult £15/Concession £13/ Child (under 12) £6/ Family Ticket £35

Stars of Irish Country

Date: Mon, 2 Oct

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £21.50

The Ken Dodd Happiness Show

Date: Thurs, 5 Oct

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £22.50

Thank Abba For The Music

Date: Fri, 6 Oct

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: Adult £22/ Concession: £21

The Haunting at Greenacre Cottage

Date: Sat, 7 Oct

Time: 7.45pm

Tickets: Adult £12/ Concession £11

Vienna Fesitival Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty

Date: Sun, 8 Oct

Time: 5pm

Tickets: Adult £20/Concession £18/ Child £14

Sister Act The Musical

Date: Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Oct

Time: 7.30pm with 2pm Sat matinee

Tickets: Adult £13.50/ Child £12/ Family Ticket £45

Regal Entertainments' Sleeping Beauty

Date: Sat 21 - Sun 29 Oct

Time: 1pm and 5pm apart from 23-24 Oct which is 1pm only

Tickets: From £11

THEATRE ROYAL BOOKING DETAILS

Book in person at the Theatre Royal Box Office Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ (Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm). Alternatively, call 01744 756 000 or log on to: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.