A RISING star from Rugby will be joined onstage by an X Factor boyband member, an award-winning pantomime dame and a local canine celebrity to kick off panto season this weekend.
Rugby’s first ever professional pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, starts a six-performance run at the Benn Hall on Friday (December 28).
Starring as Belle is Rugby born-and-bred Hollie Aires, who has just performed alongside John Owen Jones and Michael Xavier in the London workshop performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber Unmasked, following an offer to play the female lead in the German production of Starlight Express throughout 2019.
Charlie Healy from X Factor boyband The Risk plays the Beast, while international drag artist Jon Dylan Brown plays Dame Polly Petite.
Public speaker and Celebrity Big Brother star Maggie Oliver makes her stage debut as The Enchantress.
Rounding out the cast are Shane Kenny-Costello and Chris Gilbey-Smith, and writer-director Ethan J Smith.
Chico Chugg, the local doggy star of his eponymous children’s TV show, will also make an appearance.
Shows take place at 2pm and 7pm from Friday (December 28) to Sunday (December 30). Visit www.bennhall.com or call 01788 533719 for tickets or more information.
Email [email protected] to nominate husbands, boyfriends, dads or uncles to be called-up onstage alongside Dame Polly.
