Halton Borough Council has landed a real local talent to play Carabosse in its forthcoming panto, Sleeping Beauty. Oh yes it has! Charlie Griffiths is the latest star to be added to the glittering cast

Actress/singer Charlie Griffiths will join TV’s Crissy Rock, from TV’s Benidorm and I’m A Celebrity in the spectacular show.

The cast also features former Miss British Isles Rebecca Lake, actor/model and reality TV star Christopher Pym, local theatre star, Andrew Curphey and veteran dame Robert Squire , in the Brindley production.

You may just recognise her from last year when she put in a top-notch performance as Fairy Flustered – one of the most popular characters in the show.

SLEEPING BEAUTY presented by Polka Dot Pantomimes runs from 11 December – 14 January (See website for all show dates and times)

Liverpool based trained at LAMDA in London and with a BTEC in performing arts from Wirral Met College, Charlie has appeared in numerous TV productions. She drew rave reviews performing in ‘Desperate Scousewives’ at The Brindley.

She is already a panto veteran, with a string of acclaimed productions under her belt, including Snow White, here in Halton, three years ago, playing the Wicked Queen. She retuned last year to play Fairy Flustered.

The multi-talented Merseysider is also half of a girl group, with her sister and her theatre roles have included challenging characters such Lady Macbeth and ‘Lesley’ in Alan Benett’s ‘Her Little Chance’.

Charlie said she was delighted to be at The Brindley again; She said: I really like the feel of the theatre. We all got such a warm welcome last time, I can’t wait to start rehearsals and for the panto to gel. We have a great cast this year and I’m sure the audience will pick up on this and have a ‘beaut’ of a time.”

Charlie’s TV and film credits include; Molly in several episodes of Children’s Ward (ITV),Faith & Chaos (BBC), Appropriate Adult (ITV) and Across the Universe (Universal Pictures).

Theatre includes; ‘Lady Macbeth’ in ‘Shakespeare’s People’ (Severn Theatre), ‘Lesley’ in Alan Bennetts ‘Her Big Chance’ (Little Theatre),various characters in WW1 play ‘Bullets & Daffodils’ (National Tour & Jermyn Street Theatre, West End), ‘Joanna’ in ‘Love, Lies and Limbo’ (Liverpool Everyman), ‘Cleopatra’ in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ (The Lowry) ,‘Katie’ in ‘Wishful Thinking’ (Unity Theatre), ‘LV’ in Jim Cartwright’s ‘Little Voice’, ‘Janice’ in ‘Blind Faith’ (Unity2 & Preston Fringe), ‘Maria’ in ‘Fractured Soul’ (Everyman & Playhouse) ‘Dr Eva’ in psychological thriller ‘Tongues’ (Lantern Theatre, Liverpool), Nicky in musical ‘Heart and Soul’ (Epstein Theatre, Liverpool) and comedy roles ‘Chanel’ in ‘The Ciggie Run’ and recently ‘Show Us Ya Tips’(both St Helens Theatre Royal).

Commercial work includes a highly acclaimed performance playing a victim of domestic abuse for the charity Women’s Aid.

Amongst her previous pantomimes are five successful shows at St Helens Theatre Royal where her roles included; Empress of China in Aladdin, Baroness Hard-up in Cinderella, Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan and Evil Eva in Wizard of Oz twice.

The show is being staged by Polka Dot Pantomimes on behalf of Halton Borough Council.

Ticket Prices: Children £16, Adults £22, Family Ticket £66 (2 adults, 2 children), Groups 20 plus £17, Schools £11 (One teacher in 15 goes free, no booking fee). For Groups 20 plus and School tickets please contact the box office on 0151 907 8360 or e mail thebrindley@halton.gov.uk. All other tickets can be purchased online.

There is a British Sign Language Performance on Friday 29 December at 5pm and a Relaxed Performance on Sunday 7 January at 1pm. You can contact the box office on 0151 907 8360 or e mail thebrindley@halton.gov.uk if you need further information regarding these performances.

Box Office: 0151 907 8360 Book Online: www.thebrindley.org.uk

Cast announced so far

Fairy Nuff – Crissy Rock
Carabosse – Charlie Griffiths
Princess Aurora – Rebecca Lake
Prince Harry – Christoper Pym
Nanny Nora Knickerdrawer – Robert Squire