The panto production of Sleeping Beauty is returning to St Helens Theatre Royal this autumn, with Liverpool’s Claire Sweeney heading the cast. Andrew Wright reports.

Former Brookside actress Sweeney will be playing evil fairy Carabosse, with panto stalwarts Tam Ryan, Laura Gregory, and Simon Foster completing the line-up.

The production, presented by Regal Entertainments, will be casting a spell over the St Helens venue for a week from October 21.

Claire Sweeney said: “I am thrilled to be appearing at St Helens Theatre Royal – being from Liverpool, it will be like performing to a home crowd and I can’t wait to be back. Sleeping Beauty was always one of my favourite fairy tales, Panto is always great fun with an electric atmosphere.”

Actor and entertainer Tam Ryan (Last Night a DJ Saved My Life) is playing Chester the Jester, Cinderella star Laura Gregory is returning as the eponymous princess, and Dame Queenie is played by St Helens regular Simon Foster.

Chantelle Nolan, Theatre Manager said: “Sleeping Beauty is a wonderful, spellbinding story and I can guarantee our new production will sprinkle more than a little magic over the October half-term.

“I am absolutely delighted to be able to welcome the brilliant Claire Sweeney to St Helens Theatre Royal, to make the evil fairy Carabosse the most glamorous baddie in panto-land, while Tam Ryan is a legend on the panto circuit.  Add in our regular stars Laura Gregory and Simon Foster, this is shaping up to be one of our best pantomimes to date.”