KMTC’s 2025 pantomime was a departure from the many years of Marsden & Rundle pantomimes. A difficult decision, but we were determined to bring something fresh and modern to our Keighley audiences. With the addition of some Keighley magic, we didn’t disappoint our faithful patrons.
Sleeping Beauty with it’s cast of forty members was directed Peter Whitley, choreographed by Judith Chapman, and Mike Gilroy provided the musical direction.
Leading the talented company this year was Luke Scott and Alice Chapman as the prince and princess, with the very talented future star Niamh Bray confidently playing the your 12 year-old princess.
Comedy was in abundence, most notably from Jonny Tate who played the Dame, Nurse Hettie Harpic and James Windle, the muddled comic Muddles.
The Good Fairy played an unusually large part in this pantomime, which was beautifully handled by Leanne Watson, and Phoenix Bass portrayed a very convincing Bad Witch!
Cast List
| King Cactus | Richard Smith |
| Queen Marigold | Stephanie Laycock |
| Princess Rose | Alice Chapman |
| Young Princess Rose | Niamh Bray |
| Nurse Hettie Harpic | Jonny Tate |
| Muddles | James Windle |
| Prince Alexis | Luke Scott |
| Fetch | Max Hibbert |
| Carrie | K. Ellis |
| Good Fairy Lilac | Leanne Watson |
| Bad Witch Hazel | Phoenix Bass |
| Egor | Leah Ogrizovic |
| Under 12’s Chorus | Under 16’s Chorus | Ensemble |
| Annie Hardman, Darcey Elliott, Darcy Mason, Hariette Stretch, Isabella Smith , Lily Troake, Matilda Watson, Millie Blamires, Phoebe Mitchell | Aimee Bilbrough, Alfie Blacka, Daniel Hart, Gabriella Reed-Griffiths, Hollie Windle, Lily Hopkins, Maisy Harness, Ruby Cunningham, Tilly Skipsey | Alice Trow, Amy Tallant, Beth Holmes, Emily Starr, Eva Kitching, Katie Westwood, Jasmine Hibbert, Jennifer Adams, Maggie Flaherty, Paula Lawler |
KEIGHLEY Lions would like to thank Keighley Musical Theatre Company (KMTC) for its absolutely amazing performance of Sleeping Beauty.
This spectacular pantomime was beyond amazing. It was funny, the singing was great, the performances perfect and every aspect of it – from the sets to the orchestra and the costumes – was professional to the highest order.
It is sometimes too easy to speak Keighley down, but this town is full of excellent organisations just like KMTC that go above and beyond to make positivity flow.
Once again, thank you to everyone at KMTC – from those on stage to those who support in other ways from the wings; every single one of them is valued by our club and we are proud to ‘big them up’ every chance we get.
Sleeping Beauty was a first for Keighley Musical Theatre Society after producing sixty years of pantomime, and what a wonderful job they made of retelling this story. They also chose a new writer (Alan Frayn) after many years of Rundle and Marsden pantos. The new script brought a fresher, more modern approach to panto and a talented cast told the familiar story.
We were introduced to the fable by Good Fairy Lilac and Bad Witch Hazel. Both had impeccable diction so no detail of the story was missed. Fairy Lilac (Leanne Watson) had an infectious giggle in her voice while Hazel (Phoenix Bass) was utterly convincing as the baddie. Later, Hazel was joined by her sidekick Egor (Lean Ogrizovic) who treated us to a range of scary facial expressions. Four other colour fairies also brought their spells.
Comedy was brought to the stage through four great performances. James Windle, as Muddles, is always very likeable on stage and he makes an excellent foil to the very dry approach of dame Jonny Tate. Together they worked the audience to maximum effect, milking the harmless double entendre, while still entertaining the younger audience. Their slapstick scene was slick and entertaining.
They were joined in the fun by Fetch and Carrie (Max Hibbert and K. Ellis) who made a great pair of royal servants. They had some hilarious dialogue and a very clever scene with names of British towns, which I have never seen in panto before, another tribute to an inventive new script.
We were treated to three versions of Princess Rose: a non-speaking doll, then a charming young Princess who had a lovely presence and a beautiful speaking voice. Finally, the sixteen -year-old Rose arrived with a stunning smile (Alice Chapman). The love interest was completed by Prince Alexis (Luke Scott) who brought an elegant irony to the role of Prince. He knew how to work the comedy in order to make this prince a rounded character. Together Alexis and Rose treated us to some great scenes, dancing and singing beautifully.
Stephanie Laycock and Richard Smith made a charming royal couple. But the stage was at its most electric when filled by the wonderful company, including two youth choruses. KMTC are blessed with a large stage which was used to full effect. I especially liked the schoolroom scene, when the full ensemble showed their attitude in a version of Revolting Children. They looked as though they enjoyed every second.
Choreography was excellent throughout, as we have come to expect at Keighley and the dream sequence worked particularly well. The comedy musical number- done in addition to the community song- was a quirky, tongue-in-cheek version of the old standard If I were not upon the stage. You’d have to witness it to understand why the audience were so amused, but it was inventive and very slick. The settings were changed promptly by a very efficient stage crew whose job has been much enhanced by the use of projections.
A massive well done to the excellent production team of Peter Whitley, Judith Chapman and Mike Gilmore. Additional material to the script had been contributed by Mark Brown. This was a fitting tribute, as Mark, who died at only 46 in September 2024, is sorely missed by many of us in District 11.
Thank you for your warm welcome, it was good to see so many familiar faces as well as the new, young members who are your future.