A star of children’s entertainment and a much-loved actress are among the celebrities revealed to be taking part in this year’s magical family pantomime at Harlow Playhouse.
Ben Hanson and Sandra Dickinson will be playing Buttons and the Fairy Godmother respectively in Cinderella, which runs from December 11-January 10 and is produced by New World Productions in association with the Playhouse.
Ben has rarely been off our screens, having played the part of Bouncer Plakova in the hugely popular children’s TV series The Story of Tracy Beaker and Tony in the BBC’s long-running medical drama Casualty. As well as acting, Ben also presents the BBC’s children’s channel CBBC.
Sandra has enjoyed a long and successful career in television and film. She became famous in the UK for her role as Trillian in the cult science fiction TV series The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, before starring opposite Christopher Reeve in Superman III and going on to appear in shows such as BBC sitcom 2point4 Children and providing the voice of sheepdog Gail in Five’s popular family series Mist: Sheepdog Tales.
She has also appeared in the recently released British horror film Tormented and later this year will be appearing in the Living TV reality series Four Weddings opposite her fiancée, actor Mark Osmond, whereby the cameras follow the pair as they plan their nuptials before finally tying the knot.
Acting runs in Sandra’s family; her daughter Georgia Moffett has starred in Spooks: Code 9 and as the Doctor’s daughter in an episode of Doctor Who last year.
Also starring in Cinderella this year is Rob McVeigh, who went from being a builder from Rotherham to stardom when he entered the BBC’s massively popular talent show Any Dream Will Do and made it onto the show as a contestant. Rob will be playing the Prince.
“I’m delighted to welcome Ben and Sandra aboard for Cinderella,” said Playhouse General Manager Scott Ramsay.
“Ben will be well known to a lot of children and young people through his work on Tracy Beaker and CBBC, while Sandra is hugely experienced and a delight to work with.
“I’m also delighted to have Rob on board. He’s a very talented performer and his time on Any Dream Will Do will stand him in good stead when it comes to performing in front of the Playhouse crowd.”
New World Productions Managing Director Gary Telfer said: “We are delighted to be producing the pantomime here in Harlow this year. We have a fantastic cast; this promises to be an amazing show. There’s going to be plenty of fun and laughter as well as some amazing singing.
“This is our first year producing the pantomime in Harlow and we are going all out to ensure it will be a Christmas extravaganza not to be missed.”
Tickets for Cinderella can be booked from the Playhouse Box Office on 01279 31945 or online at www.playhouseharlow.com/whatson/plays/cinderella
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