Brendan Cole, Dame Kelly Holmes and Alexandra Mardell to star in Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Theatre Royal Plymouth this Christmas
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and Dancing on Ice finalist Brendan Cole, Double Olympic Champion and loved TV commentator Dame Kelly Holmes and Coronation Street star Alexandra Mardell have been announced as the all-star leading line up for Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Theatre Royal Plymouth this Christmas (Friday 15 December 2023 – Saturday 13 January 2024).
They will be joined by West End star Samuel Holmes, who returns to his Plymouth roots, Britain's Got Talent finalist and comedy ventriloquist Steve Hewlett and TV Comedian and award-winning panto comic Adam C Booth.
Brendan Cole, who will be taking on the role of the Evil Ringmaster, appeared on every season of Strictly Come Dancing since it began in 2004 up until 2017. Most recently in 2022, Brendan starred in ITV’s Sunday night entertainment programme Dancing on Ice where he was one of the finalists. As a dancer, producer and entertainer, Brendan has staged his own song and dance show on eleven nationwide tours of the UK.
Col. Dame Kelly Holmes will be making her pantomime debut at Theatre Royal Plymouth as The Ringmistress. Kelly joined the British Army at 17, serving for nearly 10 years, and in 1997 she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to the Military. During a 12-year international career, Kelly won medals at Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic level, culminating in two Gold Medals at 2004 Athens Olympic Games for the 800m and 1500m which cemented her place in history as the first women ever in Great Britain to win two gold medals at the same games. She was honoured with a Damehood in 2005 for Services to Sport. Today Kelly is a Global Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, an Award-Winning Author, a TV Personality, an Entrepreneur as well as a Fitness, Wellness, and Mental Health Champion.
Alexandra Mardell, who is also making her pantomime debut as Goldilocks, is best known for playing the role of Emma Brooker in Coronation Street. Alexandra graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in 2018 and made her professional debut starring alongside Brenda Blethyn in ITV’s crime drama series Vera. In 2019, she won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer and was nominated for both Best Newcomer and Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards for her role in Coronation Street. In 2018, Alexandra was also longlisted for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards and the Digital Spy Reader Awards.
West End star Samuel Holmes returns to his Plymouth roots to play Larry the Lion Tamer. His musical stage credits include Curtains, Shrek the Musical, Mrs Henderson Presents, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Water Babies, Spamalot, Kiss Me Kate, Crazy for You, My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance and The Spirit of Broadway.
Steve Hewlett, who joins the cast as Silly Billy, has toured the UK in the Ken Dodd Laughter Show and entertained the nation when he reached the final of the seventh season of Britain’s Got Talent.
Adam C Booth stars as Joey the Clown after winning Best Comic at The Great British Pantomime Awardsin 2022. Adam is best known for playing Gregory Lemon in ITV comedies Lemon La Vida Loca, The Holden Girls: Mandy & Myrtle and Coming in Americaas well as numerous characters on The Keith Lemon Sketch Show and The Keith and Paddy Picture Show.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears is produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the World’s biggest pantomime producer whose Chief Executive Michael Harrison said: “I am pleased to be bringing our circus spectacular to Theatre Royal Plymouth this year. Brendan is a true showman who has always wowed audiences everywhere he’s appeared in panto, alongside Dame Kelly and Alexandra making their pantomime debuts with us, and the comedic talent of Steve, Adam and Samuel, Plymouth audiences are in for a real treat this Christmas!”
Speaking on the casting, Theatre Royal PlymouthChief Executive and Executive Producer James Mackenzie-Blackman said: “I have no doubt that Brendan, Kelly, Alexandra alongside Sam, Steve and Adam will lead a spectacular Goldilocks and the Three Bears. All of us at TRP care passionately about panto’ season and we can’t wait to share this eye-poppingly lavish, hilarious and most importantly family-friendly show with audiences this Christmas.”
Goldilocks and the Three Bears features stunning sets and beautiful costumes created for The London Palladium production.
Goldilocks’ circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner and, with the help of their madcap circus friends, they’re battling to rescue their Big Top from ruin. Will they succeed? All seems lost, until three brilliant bears join the gang…
Don’t miss your chance to grab your tickets to the biggest and the best circus in town this Christmas and be swept away by a pantomime spectacular that’s just right!
Tickets are on sale now via the Theatre Royal Plymouth website.
