Cast of local professionals bring panto Aladdin to Stratford Play House and raise funds for Myton Hospice
THERE is no peace on Earth at the Play House in Stratford this festive season as the panto Aladdin got under way last weekend.
Among the keen audience on Tuesday were three Stratford primary schools, which made the boos, hisses and behind-yous especially and delightfully deafening.
“We opened Friday and had our first school show on Sunday,” explained writer Lawrence Prestidge, who also plays Wishy-Washy. “School audiences are great, they were laughing at different bits, so it’s interesting for us as actors.”
Lawrence is part of the Play House team, having been appointed community development producer earlier in the year.
“We want Stratford to have a pantomime it can be proud of that has a good reputation that we can build on every year.”
True to their aims, an impressive cast has been assembled, and headed up by TV drama director Ian Barber.
“We have some great local talent coming through,” explained Lawrence. “Rosie Pickering is the Genie. She had been doing local am dram and singing in cabaret, and we wanted to give her this opportunity, and she has excelled. Then we have Chris Saul who has worked at the RSC a lot – it’s great that we have that mix of experience and exciting new talent coming through.”
Also among the cast is actor Holly Matthews, who plays Princess Jasmine. The former Byker Grove and Waterloo Road star is joined on stage by her real-life daughters Brooke and Texas.
The show will raise money for the Myton Hospices. It’s an especially poignant cause as Holly’s husband and the girls’ father, Ross, was helped by the hospice before his sad death in 2017.
Holly said: “Ross was my biggest supporter and fan, and he would have loved me and our daughters being in panto together. He would’ve gathered everyone to come along and watch!
“The Myton Hospices made the hardest time in mine and all of Ross’s family’s life just that bit easier and I promised while we were there that I would continue to make sure others had access.”
As well as having plenty of heart, the production hopes to entertain with musical numbers.
“It’s got a musical feel to it on top of all the traditional pantomime elements – the jokes and visual gags,” explained Lawrence. “It’s got lots of lovely songs performed by talented singers.”
When not on stage, the cast are still bringing the festive vibes.
“We’ve had a jumper day, and generally keeping up the Christmas spirit. It’s an intimate cast and crew but we’ve all got each other’s backs and are working hard to give Stratford the panto it deserves.”
Aladdin is on at the Play House until 31st December.
