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An Exeter Northcott production
Written and directed by Steve Bennett
Artistic & Executive Director of Exeter Northcott Theatre Daniel Buckroyd today announces the full cast for the Christmas pantomime.
Exeter’s favourite panto dame Steve Bennett returns after last year’s acclaimed Dick Whittington to write, direct and star in this year’s show.
Steve, the Northcott’s regular dame from 1996 to 2010, continues the revival of the Northcott panto tradition with another home-grown show for all the family.
He returns as Dame Dotty Trott, leading a cast of eight, with deep local roots, in a show which opens on December 3 and runs until January 6.
The familiar tale will see Jack embark on an epic adventure, trading the beloved family cow, Daisy, before a showdown with Baron Fleshcreep and the Giant.
A chorus of 16 talented local youngsters, split into two teams, will appear alongside experienced actors, singing songs and performing dance routines.
Jessie May, who comes from Exeter and launched her career in the young chorus many years ago, plays Jack.
Emma Stansfield, from Moretonhampstead, plays the Fairy, while Dan Ball, who comes from Exeter and is currently in Don Carlos, plays the Giant and the Cow.
Devon-born Victoria Lucie plays Jill and Baron Fleshcreep is played by Mark Jardine, from Willand.
Noel White, who will be a familiar face to panto lovers following a string of performances alongside Steve at the Northcott, completes the cast and plays Silly Billy.
Jazz Franklin, who is from Devon and made her professional stage debut when she played the role of Swing in last year’s Dick Whittington at the Northcott, returns as Chorus and Understudy.
Artistic and Executive Director Daniel Buckroyd said: “The Northcott has a long tradition of producing one of the South West’s most popular pantomimes and we are proud to continue that tradition with this year’s fun-for-all-the-family production.
“Panto is a very special festive experience and we put a lot of work into the show to make sure it appeals to all ages.
“Fans of Steve will be delighted that he is writing and directing this year – it promises to be magical and memorable for children as well as entertaining and funny for the grown-ups.”
Steve added: “I am absolutely delighted with the cast and especially pleased that a lot of them have local roots.
“We will be offering a full-on family show that everyone can enjoy – from 6 to 106!”
Cast: Steve Bennett (Dame Dotty Trott), Jessie May (Jack), Victoria Lucie (Jill), Noel White (Silly Billy), Mark Jardine (Baron Fleshcreep), Emma Stansfield (Fairy), and Dan Ball (Giant/Cow).
Download cast head shots here
Dan Ball
Theatre credits include Don Carlos (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Macbeth (Beer Caves), Frankenstein, Twelfth Night (Exeter Barnfield Theatre), Margurite (Tabard Theatre), Powerplay and Click (White Bear Theatre); and for film, The Wedding Video and Throw of a Dice.
Steve Bennett
Theatre credits include Dick Whittington (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Beyond My Control (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Peter Pan (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Fair Maid of the West (Creative Cow),
Film credits include Une Rencontre (Liza Azuelos), Wedding without Love (FFP New Media).
TV credits include Broadchurch 1,2 &3 (Kudos), Peep Show (Objective Productions), Coronation Street (ITV), Doc Martin (Buffalo Pictures), Casualty, Down to Earth, The Vet (BBC), Mile High (Sky One), Poirot (Carnival Films), The Bill (Thames).
Jazz Franklin graduated from Bath Spa University/University Centre Weston in 2017, with a BA Honours degree in Musical Theatre. She played the role of Swing in last year’s production of Dick Whittington and returns as Chorus and Understudy.
Mark Jardine
Theatre credits include: The Dancing Club (Pippa Frith Productions), Dial M For Murder (Windsor Theatre Royal), The Birds, Birthday Suite (Manor Pavilion Sidmouth), Oh Whistle And I’ll Come To You (New Perspectives), Romeo & Juliet, (Barbican Theatre Plymouth), Arcadia,
The League Of Youth (Nottingham Playhouse), England Away, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won The Fa Cup (The Future Is Unwritten), Garage Band, (Colchester Mercury Theatre), Of Mice & Men, (Nottingham Playhouse), The Story Traders Of Sichuan, (Flying Panda), Waiting For Godot, Bouncers, (The Garrick Theatre).
Film credits include: 101 tear old Man (NICE FLX), Oranges and Sunshine (Oranges), Control (Northsee Ltd)
TV credits include: Coronation Street (ITV), The Royal, Diamond Geezer (Granada), Hollyoaks (Mersey Television).
Victoria Lucie
Theatre credits include The Hound of The Baskervilles, Charley’s Aunt, Cider with Rosie, The Importance of Being Earnest (Worcester Rep), The Night Pirates (Rose Theatre Kingston), Conclusions, Number 42, The Woman, Much Ado About Nothing, The Wind in the Willows (Groundlings Theatre), Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile (Bijou Productions), Insensible (Middle Weight Theatre Company), The Tempest (Individual Arts), Sleeping Beauty (Swan Theatre), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Groundlings Theatre), Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty (Wonder Productions),
Film credits include: Swilly Girl Promo, Dartmoor Killing (Peter Nicholson Films), Automata (Hex Media).
TV credits include Autopsy: The Last Hours of… (ITV), Behind the Magic (ABC).
Jessie May
Theatre credits include Hair (The Vaults), Blondel (New Union Theatre), Bumblescratch (Adelphi Theatre), The Great Jewish American Songbook (Aria Entertainment), Rock of Ages (Ambassador Theatre Group), Pride and Prejudice (Lyric Belfast and Everyman Cork), Follies (Opera du Toulon), Impotent (Lion and Unicorn Theatre), Mama Mia (Prince of Wales Theatre), Raindogs (Trafalgar Studios), the Sound of Music (Larnaca International Festival), Make Me a Song (Charing Cross Theatre).
Film credits include Awkward Turtle (Cannes Film Festival/SBTV), Follies (Bel Air Classiques)
Emma Stansfield
Theatre Credits include Casualties (Park Theatre), Roots (Donmar Warehouse), Mrs Warren’s Profession (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Steam Industry), All, My Sons, Comedy of Errors (Exeter Northcott Theatre, 2005), The Seagull (Compass Theatre Company), Mephistopheles, The Tempest (Royal National Theatre), Daisy Pulls it Off (Lyric Shaftesbury Avenue).
Film credits include Best Laid Plans (Moli Up North Ltd), Gentlemen’s Relish (BBC)
TV credits include Jamie Johnson II, III (Short Form), Call the Midwife (BBC), The Coroner II (BBC), Casualty (BBC), Agatha raisin (Mammoth for Sky), Father Brown (BBC), Privates (BBC), Endeavour (ITV), Reunited (BBC), Skins (C4), The Tudors, Tess of the D’Urbevilles (BBC).
Noel White
Theatre credits include The Unexpected Guest, The Spider’s Web, The Hollow (The Mill at Sonning), Romeo and Juliet, The Legend of King Arthur, King Lear, Macbeth (Guilford Shakespeare Company), Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk (Roses Tewskesbury), Robin Hood, Merlin, The Gift and the Glory (Dukes Lancaster), Merchant of Venice (Actors from the London Stage), A Christmas Carol (Creation Theatre Company), Comedy of Errors, Cinderella, The Ladykillers, As You Like it (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Far from the Madding Crowd (English Touring Theatre).
Film credits include The Journey (Serdukovsky Productions), The Pilgrim Factor (Tesela PC & Seisdedos).
TV credits include Holby City (BBC), Empathy (Carnival Films), Where the heart is (Carlton), Footballers’ Wives (Shed Productions), Oscar Charlie, Other People’s Children, Second Sight II, Viking in my Bed, Hope and Glory, Casualty (BBC), Band of Gold (Granada), The Bill (Thames). Anna Lee (Carnival Films)
Exeter Northcott Theatre
3 December 6 January 2018
Press night: 5 December
Box Office: 01392 726363
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Exeter Northcott Theatre is one of the South West’s leading professional theatres. Founded fifty years ago and located at the heart of the University of Exeter’s campus, the Northcott draws an annual audience in excess of 80,000 from across Exeter, Devon and the wider region with its programme of exceptional live performance and creative learning.
Our programme focuses on creation, the critically-acclaimed theatre we make; curation, the extraordinary touring work we bring to Exeter; and collaboration, the projects we deliver in a range of creative partnerships.
Recent Northcott productions include Harold Pinter’s Betrayal; a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol (with Creative Cow Ltd); and a national tour of The Railway Children (with Nick Brooke Ltd).
Recent Northcott collaborations include: Dracula: The Bloody Truth (with Le Navet Bete); French Without Tears (with English Touring Theatre & Orange Tree Theatre); Little Mermaid (with Metta Theatre); and This Is My Body (with Ten Ten Productions – Anti Slavery Day Award Winner 2015).
Plans for 2019 include The Life I Lead, a new comedy starring Miles Jupp (with Jonathan Church Productions); a new hip hop musical In the Willows (with Metta Theatre); and a new comedy version of The Three Musketeers (with Le Navet Bete).
Alongside our performance programme, we’ve developed a radical interdisciplinary commissioning programme – IMPACT – working with the University of Exeter to explore ways in which theatre can build an audience for world class academic research.
The theatre also runs a range of talent development initiatives, including an Associates Programme, which supports the next generation of theatre companies to successfully transition to the mid-scale.
Twitter: @ExeterNorthcott Facebook: @ExeterNorthcottTheatre
