Mercury Theatre's Beauty and the Beast pantomime hits stage

The Mercury Theatre’s Christmas panto production of Beauty and the Beast is up and running and promising to offer plenty of entertainment for everyone.

The pantomime, which will run until January 15, was written by Andrew Pollard and directed by Olivier Award-winning Donnacadh O’Briain.

Joining them will be panto royalty Antony Stuart-Hicks as Betty Bon Bon and Dale Superville as Almondé as well as are Alexandra Barredo as Belle, Daniel JaguszHolley as Prince Friedrich and the Beast, Sasha Latoya as L’Amour and Cupid, Jaimie Pruden as Spite, Shelby Speed as Hemlock and Nick Brittain as Toadstool.

Dame - Antony Stuart-Hicks, Alexandra Barredo, Nick Brittain & Dale Superville (Image: Mark Senior)

The tale as old as time sees the mysterious Beast imprison beautiful Belle in his enchanted castle amid a burgeoning romance.

Antony Stuart-Hicks is returning to the Mercury Theatre following his popular appearances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and Dick Whittington.

He is also co-ordinator for the Mercury Theatre Colchester’s Creatives Mentoring Programme, and has worked extensively as producer, director and writer.

Dale Superville is also back at his second home following performances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Spamalot, Dick Whittington, James and the Giant Peach, The Wind in the Willow, Jack and the Beanstalk, Habeas Corpus, She Stoops to Conquer and Oh! What a Lovely War.

Panto - Nick Brittain, Sasha Latoya, Alexandra Barredo, Shelby Speed & Panto Chorus (Image: Mark Senior)

Alexandra Barredo who plays Belle previously featured in Romeo and Juliet at the Chelmsford Civic Theatre while Daniel Jagusz-Holley who plays the titular beast is known for being part of The Kingdom Tenors, a 12 piece harmony group who made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

Joined by the rest of the cast is the Olivier award-winning director, Donnacadh O’Briain.

This came after the world première production of Rotterdam by Jon Brittain opened in Theatre 503, transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, and went on to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, subsequently playing in the West End, Off-Broadway and touring the UK.

For more information on the show and tickets, visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk or call 01206 573948.