While the whole of the UK may be dreaming of spring, Hackney Empire is busy making its Christmas plans, announcing a Hackneytopia-set Sleeping Beauty on the menu for its 2016 pantomime.
Writer Susie McKenna and composer Steve Edis will reunite for the 18th time to create a brand new retelling of the classic fairytale, with 2016 marking the first time ever the venue – famed for its annual pantomimes – has chosen to stage the much loved, magical story.
Commenting on the production, which you only have 263 days to wait to see, McKenna said: “I have been wanting to tell a new version of this fairytale for a while and I’m planning that our Warrior Princess takes hold of her own destiny. All the well-known characters will be there together with a couple of new ones and, as usual, we will be putting a very Hackney and London slant on it all!”
Sleeping Beauty will transport audiences back to the enchanted Hackneytopia; a land of fairies, unicorns and dragons where once upon a time, a princess is born. Spurned at the celebration party, malevolent wicked fairy Carabosse casts an evil spell which changes the Princess’ life forever. Will Princess Aurora take charge of her own destiny?
The pantomime will follow the huge success of the East London’s 2015 hit Jack And The Beanstalk. The puntastic piece became Hackney Empire’s best-selling pantomime in the theatre’s history, with more than 54,000 people flocking to the venue for a dose of festive family fun.
Sleeping Beauty will play from 26 November to 8 January. Casting is still to be announced.