Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 2025/2026
Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 2025/2026
Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 2025/2026
Dec 5, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026
BREAKING NEWS: JUNIOR ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS ON SEPTEMBER 6!
Hold on to your hats . . . Mark Rhodes, David Phipps-Davis and Samantha Spragg are back this Christmas!
When the wicked fairy’s evil curse causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?
Make your dreams come true next Christmas and join us for the sensational family pantomime Sleeping Beauty.
Relaxed performance 11:00am Saturday 20th December 2025
British Sign Language performance 1:00pm Saturday 27th December 2025
School Performances all at 10:00am on;
Wednesday 10th December
Thursday 11th December
Friday 12th December
Wednesday 17th December (SOLD OUT)
Thursday 18th December (SOLD OUT)
School performances are bookable via the Box Office on 01785 619080
| Fri 5 Dec | 7 pm | £21, £23, £24, £25, £26, £28 | Book | ||
| Sat 6 Dec | 2 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sat 6 Dec | 6 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sun 7 Dec | 1 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sun 7 Dec | 5:30 pm | £21, £23, £24, £25, £26, £28 | Book | ||
| Wed 10 Dec | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Thu 11 Dec | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Fri 12 Dec | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sat 13 Dec | 2 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sat 13 Dec | 6 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 14 Dec | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 14 Dec | 5:30 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Wed 17 Dec | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Thu 18 Dec | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sat 20 Dec | 11 am | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sat 20 Dec | 3 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Sat 20 Dec | 7 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Sun 21 Dec | 1 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Sun 21 Dec | 5 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Mon 22 Dec | 1 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Mon 22 Dec | 5 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Tue 23 Dec | 1 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Tue 23 Dec | 5 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Wed 24 Dec | 11 am | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Wed 24 Dec | 3 pm | £29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36 | Book | ||
| Fri 26 Dec | 3 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Fri 26 Dec | 7 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sat 27 Dec | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sat 27 Dec | 5 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 28 Dec | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 28 Dec | 5 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Mon 29 Dec | 3 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Mon 29 Dec | 7 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Tue 30 Dec | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Tue 30 Dec | 5 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Wed 31 Dec | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Wed 31 Dec | 5 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Fri 2 Jan 2026 | 3 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Fri 2 Jan 2026 | 7 pm | £25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32 | Book | ||
| Sat 3 Jan 2026 | 3 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sat 3 Jan 2026 | 7 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 4 Jan 2026 | 1 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book | ||
| Sun 4 Jan 2026 | 5 pm | £27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34 | Book |
BIG panto news . . . they’re back, back, BACK!
Panto favourites Mark Rhodes, David Phipps-Davis and Samantha Spragg will reunite for more fun and mischief in Sleeping Beauty this Christmas.
The Gatehouse is over the moon to announce the terrific trio will star in the fantastic family fun-fest from December 5 to January 4.
Double BAFTA award-winner Mark spent nearly two decades on CBBC as a host on Crackerjack, eight series of Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind-Up and the Saturday morning live show TMI to name but a few.
He’s back to play (wait for it) Hilarious Harry and says: “I’m absolutely delighted to be coming back to the Gatehouse with the wonderful Dave and Sam. We had such a fun time last year and I think this year will be even better. Here’s to the best Christmas Stafford and a wonderful panto experience!”
With more than thirty pantos under his belt (or corset in this case!) David has starred in shows including Oliver! and The Phantom of the Opera and as a director has also staged over fifty productions.
He returns as Nurse Nora Knickerbocker and adds: “I’m thrilled to be back in Stafford for my third panto season. Stafford has become almost a home from home and the audiences certainly make me feel at home with their warm welcome. I adore working at the Gatehouse, many of the team have now become firm friends, and the audiences are always up for a laugh, even when I massively veer from the script.
‘I’m also thrilled to be reunited with my ‘son’ Mark Rhodes, who valiantly attempts to steer me back onto the script despite the futility. Here’s to lots more anarchic fun, lots more dresses and maybe a little opera on the way, too!”
Completing the trio is fabulously fierce Samantha Spragg who, having delighted audiences last year as Poison Ivy, will once again bring the ‘boos’ as she casts a spell as the villainous Carabosse.
Produced by the renowned Imagine Theatre, Sleeping Beauty promises to deliver a spectacular mix of dazzling costumes, enchanting storytelling, and laugh-a-minute antics.
With plenty of audience interaction, catchy songs, and classic panto magic, this year’s production is set to be Staffordshire’s ultimate festive family treat.
When the wicked fairy’s evil curse causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it’s too late?
Make your dreams come true this Christmas with sensational family pantomime Sleeping Beauty!
As the Gatehouse gets ready to bring SLEEPING BEAUTY to Stafford this festive season, we’re looking for talented young dancers aged between 9-16 and in school years 4-11 to perform on stage in the Junior Ensemble alongside Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis this Christmas!
The open auditions will be hosted on Saturday, September 6 at The Gatehouse and no experience is necessary.
The auditions will see the youngsters learn a routine and perform as a group to an audition panel. Any child of the right age regardless of their experience can attend to try out for the show.
Steve Boden, Managing Director of Imagine Theatre, the award-winning pantomime producer said:
“Ahead of each pantomime season we host open auditions across the UK to find talented youngsters to join our professional cast on stage to bring the panto magic alive. As much as the participants dancing ability what we really look for is that ‘something’ that brings an extra bit of sparkle to the performance, so welcome people of any ability to come along and give it a go!
‘We remain one of the few UK wide panto producers who hold these open auditions as we firmly believe in offering youngsters from every background and with all levels of experience the chance to be part of pantomime and the opportunity to work in a professional company, maybe for the first time.
‘Many of the stars we work with tell us that performing in the Junior Ensemble in their local pantomimes was what sparked their love of theatre and led them in their career choices. We have also worked with some wonderful young people in our pantomimes and have seen many go on to do wonderful things in theatre and it is our aim to continue to nurture this talent every year.”
‘If you think you’ve got what it takes to bring that little bit extra to this year’s pantomime we’d love to see you at the audition!’
SLEEPING BEAUTY JUNIOR ENSEMBLE APPLICATION FORM
SLEEPING BEAUTY JUNIOR ENSEMBLE NFORMATION SHEET
SLEEPING BEAUTY is on sale now and runs from Friday, December 5 until Sunday, January 4.
11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm
£21, £23, £24, £25, £26, £28£25, £27, £28, £29, £30, £32£27, £29, £30, £31, £32, £34£29, £31, £32, £33, £34, £36
