AN OUTNUMBERED star, CBeebies presenter and Mr Stephen from Basil Brush are all part of the cast in this year’s The Anvil pantomime.

Martin Dodd for UK Productions and Anvil Arts will present Sleeping Beauty at The Anvil from Thursday, December 12, 2024, to Sunday, January 5, 2025.

The family pantomime will be laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes, and exciting special effects to keep both young and old entertained.

Playing The Prince is Tyger Drew-Honey, best known as Jake in BBC’s hugely popular Outnumbered, and Dylan across five series of Cuckoo. He has appeared in several more hit TV shows including Midsommer Murders, Death in Paradise, Grantchester and Citizen Khan, and starred in several children’s cartoons. He has also appeared in pantomimes in Poole and Northampton.

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Tyger Drew-Honey and Joanna Adeyinka-Burford  (Image: Anvil Arts) Tyger said: “I am absolutely delighted to be playing The Prince in this year’s Sleeping Beauty at The Anvil. With my newfound love for panto, I can’t wait to tread the boards again and bring some happiness and Christmas cheer to all who come to see the show!”

Fairy Snowfall will be played by Joanna Adeyinka-Burford, a regular presenter in the CBeebies House, and known for The Let’s Go Club on CBeebies, and Laugh Out Loud for Nickelodeon. Acting credits include Doctors and Holby City, as well as pantomimes around the country.

“I adore Christmas for its magical ability to unite everyone, and pantomime perfectly captures the family-centred spirit of the season. I’m really looking forward to playing Fairy Snowfall in this year’s production of Sleeping Beauty in Basingstoke,” added Joanna.

Tyger and Joanna will be joining the ever-comical Chris Pizzey, best known as Mr Stephen in the CBBC series Basil Brush, who is back by popular demand to play the part of Lester the Jester, and to direct the production. Nic Gibney makes a welcome return to The Anvil to play Lester’s mum Nanny Nora.

A beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse at her 18th birthday party and can only be woken by true love’s kiss. Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the curse? Will Princess Rose find her true love and live happily ever after?

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Lester the Jester and Nanny Nora Lester the Jester and Nanny Nora (Image: Anvil Arts) Martin Dodd, producer for UK Productions and Sleeping Beauty, said: “Our spectacular production of Sleeping Beauty has all the ingredients to be the perfect festive treat for the whole family – a brand-new hilarious script, a Prince full of charm and wit in the form of Outnumbered star Tyger Drew-Honey, CBeebies favourite Joanna Adeyinka-Burford spreading seasonal magic as Fairy Snowfall, Dame Extraordinaire and West End star Nic Gibney returning to The Anvil, and, of course, our resident comic Chris Pizzey, back to cause mischief and mayhem. With lavish sets and costumes, sensational song and dance numbers, not to mention bucketloads of laughs, fly to pick up your tickets now!”

Tickets prices vary depending on performances, and there are concessions along with group discounts, check the Anvil Arts website for full details or call the box office on 01256 844244.

There is a Relaxed Performance at 2pm on Thursday, January 2, and a Signed Performance at 6pm on Tuesday, December 17.

Call the Anvil Arts box office for more information and to book.