Sleeping Trees Returns to Theatre503 with SCROOGE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES Pantomime

After the sell-out successes of Cinderella and the Beanstalk, award-winning Sleeping Trees return to Theatre503 with the world premiere of Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves - a glorious cocktail of everyone's favourite pantomimes, directed by highly acclaimed Simon Evans (The Dazzle, Bug, Silence of the Sea).

One cold Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves are preparing for another busy night. The reindeer are ready and the sleigh is packed. There's just one problem; the sleigh won't start because the Wicked Witch has stolen all the Christmas spirit. In his desperation, Santa looks to the most unlikely of heroes to save the day... the terrifying Ebenezer Scrooge.?

Join these performers as they recreate every character you'd expect to meet in a pantomime, as well as some you might not. With Scrooge, Snow White, the Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, the seven dwarves, Harry Potter and, of course, Father Christmas, the questions on everyone's lips are... will Scrooge manage to change his ways and save Christmas? Will the boys make it to Hollywood? And what do the Seven Dwarves have to do with ANY of this?

It abounds with heart and wit, is propelled with limitless energy from the three inventive actors who devised the piece...if you only see one Pantomime this season, see this one (Cinderella and the Beanstalk, British Theatre).

Sleeping Trees are a comedy trio blending the classic elements of a well-loved pantomime with an astonishing range of fast, physical and bare-knuckled comedy. With live music, and plenty of mess, the Trees sing, dance and fight their way through ninety minutes of panto pandemonium with on-stage musician Ben Hales!

The company comments, We are all hugely excited to bring a brand new pantomime to Theatre503 this year. We love the audience in Battersea and are working hard to make sure that this panto is bigger, better and even more Christmassy than last year's. With more of your favourite pantomime and fairy tale characters ready to be given the Sleeping Trees' treatment, Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves is a festive treat for all of the family.

The production is funded by Arts Council England.

Title: Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves

Performance Dates: Tuesday 22nd November - Saturday 7th January

Please check performance times and matinee dates carefully on the Theatre503 website

Running time 90 minutes

Twitter @wesleepingtrees, @theatre503, #Scrooge503

Director Simon Evans

Writer/Performer John Woodburn

Writer/Performer James Dunnell-Smith

Writer/Performer Joshua George Smith

Musician/Composer Ben Hales

Notes: Suitable for ages 6+ (babes in arms under 24 months also welcome)

Location: Theatre503, The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 3BW, https://theatre503.com/

How to get there: Theatre503 is located on above the Latchmere Pub on the corner of Latchmere Road and Battersea Park Road. The nearest underground stations are Sloane Square (on the Bakerloo and Northern lines then bus 319), South Kensington (on the Bakerloo, Northern, Circle and District lines) then bus 49 or 345, and Vauxhall (on the Northern and Piccadilly lines) then bus 34. The nearest rail station is Clapham Junction.

Box Office: Tickets are available priced £15 (£12 concessions)

Family ticket £40 (two adults and two children or one adult and three children)

Available from Theatre503 Box Office and https://theatre503.com/, 020 7978 7040.

Sleeping Trees are a trio of multi-medium storytellers whose work is rooted in comedy, mime and live performance. Formed in 2009 whilst at The University of Chichester, the company has made 7 full-length shows to date. The most recent was Western?, a parody of Western films underscored live onstage by Brighton based progressive jazz fusion band The Physics House band.

The company have just returned from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016 where they enjoyed a highly successful run with their show Sci-Fi?.

For more information, see www.sleepingtreestheatre.co.uk.

Simon was Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse, Staff Director at the National and Creative Associate at the Bush. He is Performance Director for Secret Cinema and Artistic Director of Black and White Rainbow. His directing credits include: The Dazzle and Bug at Found111, Silence of the Sea at the Donmar Warehouse, Almost Maine at the Park Theatre, Hannah at the Unicorn, Speed Twins at the Riverside Studio, Laura Marling, Shawshank Redemption and Ghostbusters for Secret Cinema, Rubber Room at the Old Vic and Madness in Valencia at the Trafalgar Studios.