Samantha Womack, Andy Day and Damian Williams Set for DICK WHITTINGTON, 5 Dec. 2014 - 4 Jan. 2015

Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Pantomimes have announced the cast of this year's much-anticipated family pantomime, Dick Whittington, ahead of its arrival on the Lyceum stage from Friday 5 December 2014 until Sunday 4 January 2015.

Samantha Womack, Andy Day and Damian Williams star in the story of Dick Whittington, the adventurous young man who sets off to seek his fortune. Written and directed by Paul Hendy, and sponsored by East Midlands Trains, this fun-filled family show takes audiences to a magical world where the streets might really be paved with gold!

Samantha Womack plays Fairy Bowbells. Samantha is a well-known actress whose television credits include playing Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, with other roles including Babes In The Wood, Game On, Forgiven, The Last Detective, Strange, Judge John Deed and Pie In The Sky. Stage credits include Hope (Royal Court Liverpool), South Pacific (Barbican & UK Tour) and Michael Grandage's West End production of Guys & Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre), where she performed alongside Patrick Swayze. Samantha is currently filming the new lead role of Tanya in the hit Sky comedy Mount Pleasant.

Andy Day plays Captain Cuttlefish. Andy is best known as a children's BAFTA-nominated presenter on CBeebies, where his work includes Get Set Go and Big Fun Time (with co- presenter Sidney Sloane), Andy's Wild Adventures and Andy's Dinosaur Adventures. Pantomime roles include Aladdin (Kenneth Moor Theatre) and Cinderella (The Octagon in Yeovil and Bedworth). Andy also filmed the Nuzzle and Scratch cinema trails, aired throughout the UK, took part in the UK arena tour for CBeebies Live and played Scrooge in last year's CBeebies pantomime, A Christmas Carol, filmed at the Crucible Theatre.

Sheffield pantomime legend Damian Williams returns as Dame Sarah the Cook, following hilarious performances at the Lyceum Theatre over the last six years, most recently as Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk. Damien has performed in a range of comedy roles, including playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Luther Billis in South Pacific and Tommy Cooper in Being Tommy Cooper. Other theatre work includes Lock Up Your Daughters, Scrooge and Little Shop Of Horrors.

Jo Parsons plays Dick Whittington. Jo trained at the Guildford School of Acting and was awarded the Principal Performers Award in 2010. He has appeared in numerous theatre productions including playing the Prince in the Sheffield Theatres/Evolution Pantomimes' production of Sleeping Beauty, West Side Story (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford), London Fringe Premier of The Drowsy Chaperone (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), and played the title role in Peter Pan (The Castle, Wellingborough).

John Barr plays King Rat. John was nominated for Offie Awards in 2013 and 2010 for his roles in respective West End productions of A Class Act (The Landor Theatre) and Assassins (The Union Theatre), with an array of repertory roles including Chicago (Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur), Company (Derby Playhouse), The Merry Widow (Opera Della Luna) and Evita (Opera House, Manchester). Television work includes The Bill and The Purple People Eater, with film work including Les Miserables (2012). Pantomime work includes Cinderella (Milton Keynes); Aladdin (Milton Keynes Theatre); Jack & The Beanstalk (Central Theatre, Chatham) and Cinderella (Capitol Theatre, Horsham).

Promising to take audiences of all ages on a rip-roaring ride with brilliant sing-along songs, hilarious characters and lots of laughs, Dick Whittington comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Friday 5 December 2014 until Sunday 4 January 2015.

Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10.00 - £24.00 and can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres' Box Office in person, by calling 0114 249 6000, and online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk. A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash.

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