Join us for Sleeping Beauty: a brand-new, record-chasing panto packed with pop bangers, big laughs and in-jokes about our lovely town in Gloucestershire.

Directed by Olivier Award‑winning Artistic Director Derek Bond, written by UK Pantomime Association award-winner Toby Hulse, with set & costumes by Jessica Curtis (numerous credits at National Theatre / West End), it’s set to be a festive riot (oh yes it is).

Production Details:

• Marketing Photoshoot (Cheltenham) Thu 9th July (all cast)
• Promotional day in Tewkesbury Sat 11th July / Sun 12th July (Aurora / Prince only - optional)
• Rehearsals (Tewkesbury) begin: Monday 9th November 2026
• First Performance: Sat 28th November 2026
  Press Night: Wednesday 2nd December 2026
• Final Performance: Sat 2nd January 2027

Some performances are billed as "Adult Only" - the same show with some altered jokes. The comedy age-rating moves from a PG to an 18.

Contract Type: Equity - Above Minimum

Casting Details:

• All performers must have significant professional stage experience, and / or professional training.
• We welcome performers of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, and strongly encourage submissions for global majority performers. We welcome trans and non binary performers for all roles; we have specified the gender of the role as that which the character presents.
• Casting breakdowns below

Successful applicants will be invited to audition on Tue 19 May at The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX

Please apply by sending your CV/Spotlight and Showreel (if you have one) to panto@rosestheatre.org

Cast Breakdowns

Aurora (Female, 18 years - 25 years)

Aurora is our heroine: bold, curious, funny, and quietly furious at being told who she’s meant to be. A medieval princess who rejects the princess act, she is cursed and wakes up 555 years later in modern-day Tewkesbury. She leads the audience through the story, frequently breaks the fourth wall, and anchors the emotional heart of the show while fully embracing panto mischief.

Looking for a performer with excellent comic instincts, strong emotional truth, and confident musical delivery, who can command the stage and connect warmly with an audience of all ages.

Skills: Musical Theatre, Pop singing, Comedy, Audience interaction

Think: The Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt meets Amy Adams in Enchanted

Playing age: 18 years - 25 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Female

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Discordia (Female, 30 years - 55 years)

Discordia is the Eternal Spirit of Chaos and Confusion: a high-camp, fourth-wall-smashing panto villain who delights in disruption. She shapeshifts through multiple disguises, conducts the audience like an orchestra, and ultimately transforms into Pyraxis, a fire-breathing dragon.

This role needs a commanding performer with razor-sharp comic timing, complete ease with crowd interaction, and the confidence to hold the room alone. Audience booing is essential — and encouraged.

Skills: Comedy, Improvisation, Audience interaction, Killer singer, Character acting

Think: Michelle Gomez mischief with Olivia Colman-level control.

Playing age: 30 years - 55 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Female

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Martha (Female, 18 years - 25 years)

Martha is Aurora’s best friend and emotional constant across time. In Act One (1471) she is clever, brave, and secretly literate; in Act Two (2026) Martha's great(x20) granddaughter is a modern history teacher, still sharp and still searching for connection. In both timelines, Martha is (secretly) the leader of a sect that has been protecting Tewkesbury from the forces of evil.

This is a beautifully human role requiring wit, warmth, and grounded sincerity. The relationship with Aurora is central - deep friendship, destiny, or something more.

Skills: Musical Theatre, Acting, Comedy, Singing

Wishlist casting (vibe only): Emma Stone’s intelligence with Lashana Lynch’s grounded presence.

Playing age: 18 years - 25 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Female

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Prince Handsome McDreamy / Han (Male, 18 years - 25 years)

Two contrasting roles played by the same actor.

• Prince Handsome McDreamy is a charming, posh fairytale medieval prince who is kind to everyone - until he is magically transformed by Discordia into an entitled and arrogant fop mid-wedding.

• Han is his modern descendant: a firefighter, sci-fi and fantasy geek, who has always dreamed of being a hero. A warm-hearted nerd, navigating unexpected feelings in 2026.

This role requires strong leading-person presence, singing voice, comic agility, and versatility.

Think: The princes from Into the Woods, and then pivoting to Nick Frost.

Singing and dancing required.

Playing age: 18 years - 25 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Male

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Dame Quack / Madame Quack (Custom, 30 years - 60 years)

This Dame is a full-fat panto Christmas gift: in 1471 she’s Dame Quack, Tewkesbury’s “official apothecary” selling leeches, lotions and absurd cures; in 2026 she’s Madame Quack, running “Fill Those Quacks” beauty salon, still outrageous, still fabulous, still terrifyingly confident. She’s filthy, flirtatious, fast with a gag, and central to the show’s big comedy set-pieces (including gloriously disgusting “beauty treatment” slapstick).

Needs a performer with huge audience rapport, fearless physical comedy, and the ability to land jokes while driving scenes. A star turn. Experienced drag performers to the front, please.

Must have: Great comedy skills (stand up / improv / crowd work), fab singing voice.

Think: Jennifer Coolidge in Legally Blonde meets Jennifer Saunders in Ab Fab (and, dream-dream: Billy Porter-level glamour).

Playing age: 30 years - 60 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Custom - Drag Queen / Panto Dame

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Lead Ensemble / Choreographer / Understudy (Aurora / Discordia / Martha)

(Female, 20 years - 35 years)

Looking for the full super-swing package - maybe a brilliant triple-threat dance captain ready to move into the choreographer role?

Playing fun featured ensemble roles, covering 3 lead roles (as above).

Option for dance captain / associate choreographer / co-choreographer depending on experience.

Playing age: 20 years - 35 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Female

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Contract info: £650, plus subsistence (where applicable)

Plus additional fee for Choreography

Lead Ensemble / Choreographer / Understudy (Prince / Dame Quack / King) (Male, 20 years - 35 years)

Looking for the full super-swing package - maybe a brilliant triple-threat dance captain ready to move into the choreographer role?

Playing fun featured ensemble roles, covering 3 lead roles (as above).

Option for dance captain / associate choreographer / co-choreographer depending on experience.

Playing age: 20 years - 35 years

Height: Any height

Gender: Male

Appearance: Any appearance

Contract type: Equity - Above Minimum

Contract info: £650, plus subsistence (where applicable)

Plus additional fee for Choreography