Mirror, mirror on the wall… What’s the greatest panto of them all? Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs at Fairfield Halls of course…
UK Productions and BH Live today announce casting for this year’s enchanting pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which will play at Fairfield Halls in the Ashcroft Theatre from 13 December 2024 – 05 January 2025, with a press performance on Sunday 15 December at 3pm.
Poor Snow White is doomed to live unhappily ever after with her horrid stepmother, the Wicked Queen. In true rags-to-riches style, Snow White manages, with the help of her madcap friend Muddles, to meet a handsome Prince and make her dreams come true.
With a beautiful princess, a jealous Wicked Queen, seven bumbling dwarfs, a naughty nurse, a hilarious jester and not forgetting a poisoned apple and a magic mirror, it’s not to be missed! Bursting with great songs, stunning dance routines and plenty of laughter, this is a truly magical treat for all the family. This festive extravaganza is on sale now so book your seats today to see Croydon’s must-see Christmas show in 2024.
EastEnders, Biff and Chip, and Casualty star Kellie Shirley will play the role of ‘Wicked Queen’. Kellie has enjoyed a varied and versatile career to date working alongside some of the most exciting and established international and UK based talent. Kellie said,
“I’m thrilled to be channelling my inner Wicked Queen for Croydon’s panto this year – as a local girl, I can’t wait to be back in my old stomping ground again for Snow White.”
Joining Kellie is Jamie Steen , who will play the role of ‘Dame Dilly Donut’. Jamie has extensive stage credits around the UK, and is a panto stalwart, with this his 32nd year of appearing in pantoland, and then years as part of the UK Productions family. Jamie comes to Croydon after two years playing the Dame at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth. Jamie said,
“I’m over the moon to be coming to Croydon this Christmas as Dame Dilly in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Born and raised in South East London, I’m especially excited to be appearing at the Fairfield Halls, as it’s my local theatre. Looking forward to coming home for Christmas and strutting my stuff and fashion sense to all the Croydonians!”
Panto favourite Charlie Guest will return to Fairfield Halls this year as ‘Muddles’. Charlie’s many stage credits include Beauty and the Beast (Gravesend), Aladdin (Churchill Theatre, Bromley) Jack and The Beanstalk (Sunderland Empire), Aladdin (Anvil, Basingstoke) Snow White (King Georges Hall, Blackburn) Jack and the Beanstalk (King Georges Hall, Blackburn) and ‘Wishee Washee’ in Fairfield Halls’ 2023 pantomime Aladdin. Other notable stage roles include Children of Eden (West End), Club Class (UK Tour) and Jubilee (Tabard Theatre, London). Charlie is also a presenter for an online children’s TV channel – Cheeky Chimps TV. Charlie said,
“I’m so excited to be returning to Fairfield halls for my second year. This time for the fairest Panto of them all! I can’t wait for the music, the chaos and I really fancy a bite of that juicy red apple!”
On behalf of UK Productions, Producer Martin Dodd added,
“We are delighted to be returning to Fairfield Halls after two fabulous Christmas pantomime seasons with Peter Pan and Aladdin.I couldn’t be happier that Kellie, Jamie and Charlie have joined the cast. Kellie is known to TV viewers both young and old from her many films and series, Jamie is one of the country’s top dames and Charlie is a comic actor that the Fairfield audiences took to their hearts last year and always brings plenty of laughs. We can guarantee audiences the most wicked of pantomimes but watch out for those apples!”
The creative team will include Sarah Redmond, who returns to direct at Fairfield Halls, following Aladdin in 2023 and Peter Pan in 2022, with Anthony Whiteman as choreographer.
Fairfield Halls is managed by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live. On behalf of the team at Fairfield Halls, Steve Turner, Director of Venues added,
“Pantomime is a much-loved theatrical tradition during the festive period, and it’s often the first introduction to theatre for many young people. We’ve continued to work with local schools and community groups across Croydon to enable more children to enjoy panto through closed school performances and our annual relaxed, accessible performance. We’re thrilled our pantomime producer, UK Productions, has secured another great cast line up for our festive spectacular and we can’t wait to raise the curtain on another magical panto season.”
Further cast and creative team will be announced in the autumn.
Not to be missed, tickets and group bookings are available from fairfield.co.uk with special early bird rates and super schools offers also available.
Promoting accessibility and enabling more people to enjoy the magic of pantomime, there are also captioned (27 December 2024) relaxed (3 January 2025) performances.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Fairfield Halls is operated by the registered charity BH Live, in partnership with Croydon Council.
With a long and distinguished history, Fairfield Halls sits in the heart of Croydon.
Spaces inside the venue include its 809-seat Ashcroft Theatre, the world-class 1,802-seat Concert Hall, and The Recreational a 750-capacity standing live music venue. Additional studio space is available in the adjoining John Whitgift Community Cube which is also home to a vibrant café open daily serving food and drink.
As well as the main auditoriums, there are additional spaces and rooms that regularly accommodate local business events, conferences, exhibitions, meetings, consumer-led events, and attractions such as family gatherings and celebrations.
Following a major refurbishment in 2019, the venue’s opening seasons included an eclectic mix of theatre, music, comedy, performance, dance and family entertainment including an annual festive pantomime.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother opened the Fairfield Halls on Friday 2 November 1962. The inaugural concert in the Concert Hall was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, with renowned soloist Yehudi Menuhin also performing.
The Ashcroft Theatre was opened on 5 November by Croydon-born Dame Peggy Ashcroft, with the opening ceremony including a monologue by Sir John Betjeman called ‘Local Girl Made Good’. The first play performed was Royal Gambit, starring Dulcie Gray.
The Arnhem Foyer is named after Croydon’s twin-town of Arnhem in the Netherlands.
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About BH Live
Fairfield Halls is managed by registered charity BH Live in partnership with Croydon Council. BH Live is a registered charity and social enterprise.
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BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
ABOUT UK PRODUCTIONS
UK Productions was formed in 1995 to produce musicals, plays, and pantomimes, for which they are now one of the country’s most prolific producers. They have produced shows all over the world and in the West End and on Broadway, with one of their most recent hit productions The Kite Runner opening in New York on Broadway in July of last year. playing to packed houses across both the UK and Ireland, and North America at the same time during 2024.
The 2024/25 season will see them producing eleven pantomimes from Bournemouth in the south to Sunderland in the Northeast and all points in between. They have their own production facilities and will also supply sets, costumes, and props to over forty productions during this period for other producers and theatres.
For more information visit ukproductions.co.uk
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