Returning to the Alhambra Theatre before the festive season starts, panto legend Billy Pearce was joined byEmmerdale starand reigning King of the Jungle Danny Miller, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK runner-up and musical theatre performer Divina De Campo and Bradford favourite Sarah Goggin to launch Yorkshire’s giant panto.
Billy Pearce first topped the bill of the Alhambra Theatre’sannual festive production in 1993, winning acclaim from critics and audience members alike, and has since solidified his reputation as the King of Yorkshire comedy.
Side-splittingly funny, Billy will bring his trademark mad-cap comedy and boundless energy to the stage and will have audiences laughing in the aisles.
Danny Miller is best-known for his recurring role as Aaron Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale. During his 13-year stint on the show Danny won three British Soap Awards for Best Actor in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Hailing from Stockport, Manchester, Danny is well-known for his charm and charisma - so much so that he was crowned by the voting public as King of the Jungle on the twenty-first series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2021.
Divina De Campo, who hails from Yorkshire, is a seasoned British drag queen and singer best known for her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finishing as runner-up. Divina has been featured on national television programmes including ITV’s The Voice as well as being a featured judge on BBC One’s All Together Now. Most recently, Divina has been on tour with the UK production of Chicago and has just finished her run of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse and HOME Manchester.
Having spent the summer starring as the legendary Rizzo in Grease the Musical at The Dominion Theatre in London, Jocasta Almgill is no stranger to the stage. Jocasta has previously appeared as Lady Capulet and 1st cover Angelique in the smash hit production of &Juliet in the West End. Her other acting projects include Anita in West Side Story (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Asian tour of Ghost – The Musical and Chicago at the Curve, Leicester. Jocasta joins the cast as Queen Josephine.
Aisha Jawando, who will play Princess Jill, is currently starring as Tina in Tina - The Musical at The Aldwych Theatre in London. Her multiple West End credits include Book of Mormon, Motown, Beautiful and The Lion King. She has appeared on Big Night at the Musicals (BBC), The Show Must Go On (BBC) and This Morning (ITV).
Having appeared in the Alhambra Theatre pantomime for the past four productions, Sarah Goggin returns this year for Jack and the Beanstalkto play the Giant’s evil wife, Mrs Blunderbore. Aside from appearing in multiple pantomimes over the years, Sarah has starred as Sister Mary Robert in the UK Tour of Sister Act, Monica Geller in Friendsical the Musical Parody, and the past two seasons at The Kilworth House Theatre in Half a Sixpence and Sister Act.
Adam Renton General Manager Bradford Theatres said:
“This year's spectacular pantomime is bigger than ever! With the very popular Billy Pearce at the helm, joined by Danny Miller, Divina De Campo and the amazing supporting company, our festive show promises to be magical.
We cannot wait to welcome our customers back to enjoy this gigantic pantomime packed full of special effects, fantastic costumes and lots of laughs!”
Jack and the Beanstalk will be produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the team behind the 2021 production of Sleeping Beauty, Crossroads Pantomimes. The production will be packed full of the magical ingredients Bradford audiences have come to expect from their annual festive production with amazing special effects, stunning sets, beautiful costumes, and moo-vellous amounts of laughter set to make this year’s panto a giant adventure for the whole family to enjoy.
There is a performance for everybody this festive season: with signed performances on Thursday 15 December at 2pm and Sunday 15 January at 5pm; audio described performances on Thursday 5 January at 2pm and 7.15pm; a captioned performance on Sunday 8 January at 5pm, and a relaxed performance on Tuesday 10 January at 6pm. The relaxed performance will welcome everyone who would like to see the panto in a less formal atmosphere.
Fe-fi-fo-fum, a giant of a panto your way comes! Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Saturday 10 December 2022 – Sunday 22 January 2023 at the Alhambra Theatre. Be sure to book your tickets now!
You can download photos from yesterday’s launch event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAaeZr
