Christopher Biggins, Faye Tozer and Richard Cadell & Sooty Announced As Star-Studded Sleeping Beauty Cast

The Ambassadors Woking have announced a star-studded line-up for this year’s fairytale pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. The show will be running at the New Victoria Theatre from Friday 6 December to Sunday 5 January 2025.

Leading the cast will be stage, screen and pantomime legend, the one-and-only Christopher Biggins as The Spirit of Dreams, along with Steps singer and musical theatre star Faye Tozer as Carabosse and illusionist, puppeteer and actor Richard Cadell (accompanied by his friend Sooty!) as Muddles.

Christopher Biggins has been a mainstay of entertainment over the last five decades. He first started his panto career over 45 years ago before forging a highly successful career in show business. Best-known for his numerous iconic television appearances, Biggins appeared opposite the late Ronnie Barker in the BBC sitcom Porridge, held roles in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, appeared alongside Michael Crawford in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em and played Nero in the critically acclaimed dramatisation of I, Claudius. Biggins is also known and well-loved for his hosting credits, including co-hosting Surprise, Surprise, On Safari, appearing on numerous celebrity specials and as King of the Jungle having won ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2007. On stage he has starred as The Baker in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, played Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar and the Baron in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End. It is pantomime for which Biggins is most-loved, entertaining thousands of festive theatregoers each year.

Popstar Faye Tozer is best-known as part of the hit sensation Steps. Outside of the Steps-phere, Faye Tozer has also enjoyed an extensive theatre career, starring to great acclaim in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one-woman musical Tell Me On A Sunday and Singin’ in the Rain at London’s Sadler’s Wells. In 2018, Faye took part in the sixteenth series of BBC One’s primetime show, Strictly Come Dancing. Coupled with Giovanni Pernice, the pair sashayed into the final and wowed audiences with their incredible footwork, only narrowly missing out on winning the coveted glitter ball trophy.

Richard Cadell is known to children nationwide as the presenter of the legendary Sooty Show. Richard started out as one of Britain’s top illusionists, appearing on stage and television all over the world, and he has also worked as a BBC Radio DJ and children’s television presenter on Sky TV. Richard has now worked with Sooty for more than 20 years, writing and presenting over 100 television episodes. Sooty has been a family favourite for over seven decades, and The Sooty Show is currently the highest watched preschool show on ITV.

Sleeping Beauty is produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer. Michael Harrison, Chief Executive said: “I’m delighted to be announcing such a stellar line-up for our production of Sleeping Beauty in Woking this Christmas. Biggins is the absolute master of the pantomime genre, Faye is a sensational performer and brings stunning vocals and Richard and Sooty are masters of mischief and illusion – this will be quite the panto spectacular!”

JJ Almond, Venue Director at The Ambassadors Woking (New Victoria Theatre | Rhoda McGaw Theatre | Nova Cinema), said: “Pantomime often inspires a lifelong love of theatre and it’s an honour to play a part in bringing this joy into people’s lives. This is a cast we could only dream of. From Sooty and Sweep’s shenanigans to Faye Tozer’s brilliance and even Mr. Panto himself, Christopher Biggins, there’s something for everyone. We look forward to welcoming them to Woking this Christmas. Don’t sleep on tickets for this.”

Once upon a time in a land far away, Princess Aurora is given a twenty-first birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse. By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel, she is placed under a cruel curse and forced to sleep for 100 years.

Can true love survive and the spell be broken? Who will outwit the evil Carabosse and foil her wicked plans? All will be revealed in this magical panto packed with music, comedy and special effects.

Don’t get caught snoozing, book your tickets now at ATGTICKETS.COM/Woking.