Sleeping Beauty given 21st century update with Doctor Who and Lady Gaga-inspired characters
SLEEPING Beauty has been magically brought into the 21st century... with Dr Who and Lady GaGa-inspired characters making an appearance in the Wellworth Players’ version of this classic fairytale.
Writer and director Karen Bays, a member of the players for more than 30 years, has adapted Charles Perrault’s tale to incorporate the talents of the group’s actors to create a pantomime fit for all the family.
The story, which will be staged at Needingworth Village Hall, takes a cunning twist with Dr Who arriving in the Tardis – replacing Prince on a horse – to awaken the Princess, who has been sleeping since she was poisoned by the wicked fairy.
Under the musical direction of Roger Billington, the panto has the perfect acoustic accompaniment which allows Nanny GaGa – who replaces the Dame usually found in the original panto – to belt off one of the pop sensation’s tracks.
Sleeping Beauty, which is Bays’ fifth pantomime, is packed with songs, jokes, and dances.
“The show promises to be fun for all the family,” Bays said. “I changed the panto so it’s relevant to our times. I had to do a bit of research on Dr Who because I couldn’t stand it when I was younger!”
The Wellworth Players won the National Operatic and Dramatic Association Best Pantomime in East Anglia accolade for its performance of Aladdin, also written by Bays, four years ago.
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INFORMATION: Sleeping Beauty plays at Needingworth Village Hall on February 16, 17 and 18 at 7.30pm. An additional matinee performance takes place at 2.30pm on Saturday, February 18. Tickets �6 are available at the Queen’s Head pub in Needingworth, Whateley’s Newsagents, St Ives, or Box of Delights, Needingworth. Alternatively call 07527 421535.
