Harry Potter star Percy Weasley’s coming to Newbury! Oh yes he is!
Percy Weasley is coming to Newbury! Oh yes he is!
The Corn Exchange has announced their star-studded cast and creative team for this year’s pantomime, Dick Whittington and it features Harry Potter film star Chris Rankin, best known for playing Percy in the Wizarding World franchise.
The show has again been created by Plested Brown and Wilsher - Amanda Wilsher, Clare Plested and Adam Brown (The Hobbit, Warner Brothers; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tale No Tales, Disney) - who were once Newbury’s resident theatre company. Clare is an acclaimed actor, writer and comedian, shortlisted for the Funny Women Comedy Writing Awards in 2022.
Adam, who is a Newbury local, growing up in Hungerford, is best known for playing Ori in The Hobbit and recently appeared alongside Sir Ian McKellen in Mother Goose at Theatre Royal, Brighton.
Amanda Wilsher is a firm favourite for Newbury, as she has previously directed Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022 and Beauty and the Beast last year.
The trio told @newburytoday: “We’re so excited for the people of Newburyshire to meet our fantastic panto cast this year!
“Returning to our stage is Newbury favourite Jade Johnson as Cosmo the Cat! Back flipping his way into our hearts is the flipping wonderful Kai Harris as Dick Whittington. You’ll scream with laughter at Dick’s mum, our super Dame, Scott Riney.
“Sensational singer Shannon Bourne will blow you away as the talented musician-wannabe Alice. You may recognise her very silly father Alderman Fitzwarren from some Harry Potter movies…
“Keeping us in order is the hilarious Grace Kelly Miller as Detective Fairy Bowbells. She’ll have her work cut out against the dastardly Percy Rat played villainously by the superb Alex Crandon.
“And there are no words to describe how brilliant our ensemble are - Finna Hardy, Jake Poolman and Adam Craig. We’re so lucky to have nabbed such incredible talent!”
The ensemble features Jake Poolman, who has performed in Les Misérables and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Adam Craig (The Wizard of Oz West End) and Finna Hardy, who makes her pantomime debut.
Audiences are invited to join Dick and his trusty cat on their quest to seek fame and fortune, for some festive fun for the whole family in a pantomime packed with magic and chart-topping songs from across the decades.
The panto runs from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, January 5
Dick and his trusty cat seek fame and fortune and as the dynamic duo journey from Newburyshire to London, it soon becomes clear that perhaps everything is not what it seems…
In the creative team are choreographer Miranda Wilford, MD and Orchestrations Ben Barrow set and dame costume designs are by Mark Walters for Glitter Pantomimes, with costume designs by Carl Davies. Completing the creative team are Vicky Allen as lighting designer and Nathan Smith as sound designer.
Corn Exchange director Jessica Jhundoo-Evans said that the pantomime is such a special time of year for everyone at the Corn Exchange.
“We are delighted to present Dick Whittington this year and look forward to welcoming thousands of people from our local community to see it as part of this much-loved festive tradition.
“Plested Brown and Wilsher always deliver a fun-packed, musical treat for us and I am sure they will have plenty of surprises up their sleeves as usual.”
Following two successful annual appeals, the Corn Exchange have run their Panto Pay it Forwards appeal again this year, providing free pantomime tickets to those in the community who are most in need.
“The Corn Exchange believes passionately that cost should not be a barrier to experiencing the magic of pantomime,” said Jessica.
Their Panto Pay it Forwards appeal has been really well-received, making a positive difference in the community and providing a joyful cultural experience to those who would otherwise not be able to attend.
Thanks to their supporters in 2023, the Corn Exchange distributed 555 free tickets. 238 free tickets were given to school children in receipt of pupil premium funding from six local schools and 317 free tickets were provided to local community groups including West Berkshire Young Carers, Thatcham Family Hub, Citizen's Advice, Eight Bells for Mental Health, Community Youth Project, Educafé, Fairclose Centre, Home Start Family Hub, Sensory Consortium, Hungerford Youth Centre, Two Saints and Audrey Needham House.
Visit https://cornexchangenew.com/ for booking details.
Age guidance: Suitable for all ages
Running Time 140 minutes (approx – with a 20 minute interval)
CAST
Dick Whittington: Kai Harris (West End Does Christmas 2023)
King Rat: Alex Crandon (who has previously performed in Plested, Brown and Wilsher’s Cinderella at Salisbury Playhouse)
Alderman Fitzwarren: Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley in the Wizarding World franchise)
Alice Fitzwarren: Shannon Bourne (Becoming Nancy and Stranger Sings! tour)
Dame: Scott Riney
Detective Fairy Bowbells: Grace Kelly Miller
Cosmo: Jade Johnson (The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre)
Ensemble Adam Craig: (The Wizard of Oz West End)
Ensemble Finna Hardy (pantomime debut)
Ensemble: Jake Poolman (Les Misérables and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
