Cast announced for Beauty and the Beast panto at Corn Exchange Newbury

Corn Exchange Newbury has announced cast and creatives for its 2023 pantomime production of Beauty and the Beast.

The festive show will run at the Berkshire venue from 24 November – 31 December 2023.

Chloe Gentles (Winnie The Pooh, Riverside Studios/UK Tour, Mamma Mia!, UK Tour) plays Belle, whilst Nathan Shaw  (The Rocky Horror Show, UK Tour; Walk Like A Man, UK Tour) stars opposite her as the Beast.

Robbie Noonan (Winnie The Pooh, Riverside Studios/UK Tour, Avenue Q, UK Tour) will play Batty, whilst Jade Johnson (Help! We Are Still Alive, Seven Dials Playhouse; The Book of Mormon, West End) will be  spreading a little magic as Fairy Common. Jenny Perry (The Rocky  Horror Show, European tour) plays the Wicked Witch,  joined by Lois Elizabeth Glenister (Stick Man, Leicester Square Theatre) as Ratty and Graham Mackay Bruce (The Phantom of the Opera, West End; Chicago, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as the Dame. Completing the company are are Abby Fell, Harry Warburton and Adam Craig.

Beauty and the Beast is written and directed by Plested, Brown and Wilsher Pantomime, who are Clare  Plested, Adam Brown and Amanda Wilsher.

Making up the creative team are set & costume  designer Mark Walters (Glitter Pantomimes), choreographer and assistant director Holly Hughes (Anyone can Whistle, Union Theatre), music supervisor James Keay (Mother Goose, West End/UK Tour) and musical director Ben Barrow (Footloose, UK Tour). Lighting design is by in-house team Guy Dickens  and Vicky Allen, with sound design by Nathan Smith.

Plested Brown and Wilsher said: “We’re so excited to announce this year’s cracking panto cast – expect some new comedy faces, West End wonders and a very talented beast! The show features performers from West End productions such as Mamma Mia, Rocky Horror Show and Les Misérables, and family favourites like Zog and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh live on stage.

“We’re also delighted to welcome back Chloe Gentles, Jade Johnson and Robbie Noonan for fun and frolics in Newburyshire. We can assure you our exceptionally talented Beauty and the Beast cast will give you a ‘roar-some’ panto time!”

For more information and tickets, visit www.cornexchangenew.com