BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CAST

ANDREW POLLARD is DAME MADELINE MARZIPAN

Andrew is an actor and writer and was trained at The Bristol Old Vic.

Theatre credits include playing Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days on Broadway, at the Asolo Rep, Florida plus a National UK tour (New Vic Theatre/Kenny
Wax). He co-wrote and performed in a play based on the ‘Great Escape’ entitled Tom, Dick and Harry which had a run at Alexandra Palace, London in the summer of 2020 (Kenny Wax). Andrew has worked in theatre extensively including most recently Whatever Happened to Phoebe Salt (New Vic Theatre, Stoke) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (Eastbourne Theatres).

His other credits include Educating Rita (Dukes Theatre/New Vic/Stephen Joseph), A Leap In The Dark, Talent, Diane of Dobson’s, The Ladykillers, Ghosts, Far from the Madding Crowd, Where Have I Been All My Life, Spring and Port Wine, The Admirable Crichton, The Rivals, Alphabetical Order and The Graduate (New Vic Theatre), To Sir With Love (Birmingham Rep), Life’s A Drag (Contact Theatre) Medea, School for Scandal, Macbeth, King John and The Merry Wives (Northern Broadsides), Hay Fever, Sleeping Beauty, Babes in the Wood and Perfect Days (Oldham Coliseum), Arsenic and Old Lace. The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lonesome West (Keswick Theatre by the Lake), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath), A Night at the Bijou (Natural Theatre), Whose Dog Is It Anyway? (JB Shorts), Comedy of Errors (Ludlow Shakespeare Festival), Search Light Over Bemmy (Tobacco Factory), Cinderella (Halifax Victoria), Marat/Sade (Bristol Old Vic), The Picture of Dorian Gray (International tour, American Drama Group), Dick Whittington (Theatre Royal Northampton), A Taste of Honey (Moffat Little Theatre Co).

CATHY BREEZE is PROFESSOR POTAGE

Born in Leeds, Cathy trained at the Drama Centre in London. She has performed in Les Misérables and Oliver! in the West End, and toured with productions such as John Godber’s Shakers and Stepping Out (West Yorkshire Playhouse).

Her film credits include: The Inbetweeners Movie, The Runaways, Dark River and Walk Like A Panther.

Her TV credits include: The Syndicate, Broken, The Moorside and The Royal, and she is also in the new series of The Jury: Murder Trial.

Cathy is delighted to make her debut at the Victoria Theatre.

MATTHEW ALLEN IS FRENCH FRANK

Matthew trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.

Theatre Credits include David Walliams’ Awful Auntie (UK and Ireland Tour), Brief Encounter (Royal Exchange Theatre), Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Nottingham), Aladdin (Esher Theatre), Our Town, Table for Six, The Space Between Us, A Doll's House, Rats Tales (Royal Exchange Theatre), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (The Lowry), Matthew Bourne's Lord of the Flies (The Lowry).

Film and TV credits include; Daddy’s Head (Stigma Films) and Doctors (BBC).

NEIL MOORS is BENEDICT BOURBON

Training: Birmingham School of Acting and Royal Academy of Music

Theatre Credits Include: Giles in the UK Premiere of Rebecca the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre, London), Harry Bright in Mamma Mia Musical (Novello Theatre, London), Serpent in Heaven on Earth (Arena Tour), Joe Gagery in Great Expectations (The Grand Theatre, Blackpool), David Carter in Out There (Union Theatre), King Richard in Blondel (Union Theatre) - OFFIE nominated for Best Actor, Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour + German Tour), Pirate King in All Male Pirates of Penzance (Hackney Empire +UK Tour), Wolf & Alternate Shrek in Shrek the Musical (UK Tour), Captain Corcoran in All Male HMS Pinafore (UK Tour), Cover Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour), Benny in Rent 20th Anniversary concert (UK Tour), Major General in Pirates of Penzance (Sydney Theatre + Australian Tour), Magic Tenors (European Tour), Tony Amor in Carmen (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Cover Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (UK Tour), Simeon in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat (UK Tour), Wulfgar in Beowulf (Cockpit Theatre), George Perry in Blaze the Musical (Bridewell Theatre), Yang Sun in The Good Person of Sichuan (Birmingham Rep), The Burglar in Misalliance (UK Tour) and Dick Dudgeon in The Devil’s Disciple (Shaw’s Corner).

Television Credits Include: Terence Bernier (Bailiff) in Coronation Street 2023 (ITV), Life is not Loose (ITV Loose Women) Lockdown Day Job (BBC News), This Morning at the Musicals (ITV This Morning), Terence Bernier (Bailiff) in Coronation Street 2021 (ITV), Tom in Coronation Street 2018 (ITV)

BETH WOODCOCK is BELLE

Training: The Centre Performing Arts College

Theatre Includes: Alternate Sloane in Bat Out of Hell (UK Tour), Phantom / Cover Janet & Magenta in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (UK & International Tour), Spinotti / Cover Sloane, Raven, Valkyrie & Zahara in Bat Out of Hell (West End, Australia & International Tour), Scaramouche in We Will Rock You, The Best of Wham (UK Tour).

Workshops Include: Ethal in The Dreamers.

Other Work Includes: Lead Vocalist for Viking Cruises, The Dreamers (Original Cast Recording).

Beth is represented by Brewis Scott Associates and is thrilled to be joining the cast of Beauty & The Beast. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support.

SAM WILLISON is PRINCE PIERRE / BEAST

Training: The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA Musical Theatre and The Dance School of Scotland

Theatre Credits include: Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice the Musical (Norwegian Cruise Line), Man in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Wolverhampton Grand/Edinburgh Fringe), The Poet in the West End and Olivier award-nominated musical, The Choir of Man (Norwegian Cruise Line), Rory in Jack and the Beanstalk (Beacon Arts Theatre, Greenock), Male Swing in Friends! The Musical Parody! (UK & Ireland Tour), Del Shannon in Warriors! A New Musical (Edinburgh Fringe), Lead Vocalist in Night at the Musicals (Websters Theatre, Glasgow), Beast/Prince Angus in Beauty and the Beast (Falkirk Town Hall), Lead Vocalist (Viking Cruises), Beast/Prince Proudfoot in Beauty and the Beast (Victoria Theatre, Halifax), Bobby in Des-Elation (Drayton arms, London) Prince Michael in Snow White (Victoria Theatre, Halifax), Keep the Home Fires - A New Musical (Edinburgh Fringe). Sam was also a Finalist in the Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year in 2016 (SECC).

Credits whilst training: Charlie Cameron in Brigadoon, Taxi Driver in Woman on the Verge of Nervous Breakdown and Ensemble in Chess (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland/Edinburgh Festival Theatre), Featured Vocalist with Susan Boyle (BBC Children in Need-Pudsey Goes to the Musicals).

Workshop Credits include: Dr Jaquith in Now, Voyager- A New Musical (Cutting Edge Theatre Productions), Yellowback/Nan in The Mystery of Wickaby Wood and the Missing Christmas Pud - A New Musical (By Natalie Arle-Toyne and Stuart Fleming).

Sam is excited to be returning to the Victoria Theatre this Christmas!

NIKKI SCHOFIELD is FAIRY FLUTTERBY

Nikki, originally from Yorkshire trained at Laine Theatre Arts, has worked professionally in London and Internationally for over 20 years and is now back in Yorkshire performing and choreographing shows and productions in the UK.

She thoroughly enjoyed playing Fairy Flutterby in both Sleeping Beauty and Jack & The Beanstalk at The Victoria Theatre, and loved being back again last year, a part of the award-winning ensemble as Captain Hook's crew in Peter Pan.

Theatre credits include, We Will Rock You, (Original cast Switzerland & Germany); Mack & Mabel (Southwark Playhouse, London); 42nd Street Gala, (London Palladium); White Christmas (The Lowry, Salford and Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Showtime! The Musical (The Spa Theatre, Bridlington); What a Feeling (UK tour); Christmas on Broadway (Niagara Falls and USA tour); Broadway (US Tour); Colorline cruises, working onboard both MS Color Fantasy and MS Color Magic.

Nikki has performed in many pantomimes at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax over the years: Beauty and the Beast, The Spirit of the Mirror in Snow White, She has also performed in Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

Other pantomimes include: Cinderella, (The Shaw Theatre, London); and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (New Victoria Theatre, Woking).

Choreography credits include; Sleeping Beauty for Imagine Theatre, (Rotherham Civic Theatre); Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Hairspray; Legally Blonde; Ghost; A Night at the Musicals for Diva Productions and Showtime! The Musical (The Spa Theatre, Bridlington).

Television credits include: Harry Hill - The Movie (Film); A featured dancer with Louie Spence on the Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV); and a featured dancer on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV)

Nikki started her panto journey as a little girl in the Junior Ensemble here at this very Theatre and just wants to say to any young dancers reading this, follow your dreams, believe in yourself and don’t give up. Merry Christmas Everyone!

ENSEMBLE

CHLOE MAE MCDONALD - DANCE CAPTAIN

Chloe Mae graduated from Dancebox Studios and Theatreworks, Milton Keynes in 2019 with a University of the Arts London Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts and is thrilled to return to the Victoria Theatre once again after recently returning from life at sea onboard MSC Euribia as a Production Cast Dancer (2025)

Previous credits include: Dancer for Wickedly Ariana UK Tour (2025), Dancer/Artist for Serendipity Castings, Morocco (2024), Production Cast Dancer for MSC cruises (2023), Dancer for Marella Cruises (2019-2022), Ensemble for Cinderella, The Victoria Theatre Halifax (2023), Sleeping Beauty, The Victoria Theatre Halifax (2022), Beauty and The Beast, The Victoria Theatre Halifax (2019). Dancer for Heart FM (2019).

ENSEMBLE - JACOB STEBBINGS

Jacob Stebbings trained at Bird College Conservatoire of Dance and Musical Theatre.

Stage Credits: ‘Eugene Felsnic’ in Secret Cinema’s ‘Grease! The Immersive Movie Musical!’ (Evolution Battersea), Dancer at ‘The Railway Ball’ (O2 Intercontinental), Ensemble in ‘Peter Pan’ (Victoria Theatre Halifax), Junior Ensemble in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (Victoria Theatre Halifax).

Credits whilst training: Jack in ‘Into the Woods’ (Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre), SpongeBob in ‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical!’ (Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre), Dancer in Musical Con Opening Ceremony 2024 (Excel London).

Jacob is thrilled to be returning to the Halifax Victoria Theatre, especially after being apart of the award winning ensemble for the UK’s best ensemble in last years ‘Peter Pan’, and would like to thank all his amazing friends and family for their constant support!

ENSEMBLE - NAOMI TOWER

Training: Bird College.

Theatre credits include:
Tantomile in CATS (Royal Caribbean).

Credits in training include: Kylar in Bring It On (Bird College); Dancer in Move It Main Stage (Bird College)

Naomi is represented by BOSH Management and is so excited her for pantomime debut with Imagine Theatre this year!

ENSEMBLE - NATHAN CHRISTY 

Training: The Urdang Academy 

Theatre: Dick Turpin Rides again (Crossroads Pantomimes), Singer/Dancer (Celebrity Cruises). 

Credits Whilst Training: Mr Mayor in Seussical The Musical and Mr McQueen in Urinetown.

Nathan is represented by Brewis Scott Associates and is thrilled to be joining the cast of Beauty and The Beast. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continued love and support. 

JUNIOR ENSEMBLE TEAMS

Chaperone Team

Paige Alexandra - Head Chaperone 

Tamzyn Clarke, Kim Williams, Jane Marescaux, Pushpinder Sandu, James Garlick

ROB MARSDEN - DIRECTOR

Robert Marsden is a freelance theatre director, writer, and author of Inside the Rehearsal Room (2022) and A Beginner’s Guide to Directing Theatre (2025), both published by Bloomsbury.

He is proud to have worked for Imagine Theatre since 2007 and has been directing the Halifax panto since 2010 with his long-term collaborator Laura-Ann Grecian. For Imagine, he has also directed in venues such as Crewe Lyceum (3 years), Rotherham (3 years), Loughborough, Reading, and Porthcawl for the company.

A leading figure in UK pantomime, he is a proud trustee of the UK Panto Association and has written about pantomime in numerous books. He co-wrote the world’s first degree in pantomime at the University of Staffordshire where was also Head of Department of Media, Performance and Communication and an associate professor in acting and directing. Robert is currently Director of Curriculum at Wilkes Academy, Swindon and a trustee at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has a PhD in rehearsal room methodologies.

As a director, Rob has also directed genres such as Shakespeare, Jacobean and Spanish tragedy, Greek and Restoration comedy, verbatim and site-specific theatre, as well as much new writing and numerous musicals.

Companies worked for since 1999 include New Vic Theatre (2001-2005), Mercury Theatre Colchester, Frinton Summer Theatre, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Bolton Octagon, Selladoor Worldwide, Southwark Playhouse, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, Leatherhead Theatre, Swanage Repertory, BBC Radio, Birmingham Old Rep, Cooper Hall, Milton Keynes/ATG, Greenwich Theatre and ABP. Rob was artistic director of Reveal Theatre Ltd from 1999 to 2015, directing and producing across Europe, as well as tours and residencies in the UK. Recently, he has directed Ray Cooney’s Two Into One for Frinton, and has been directing new work, including The Trial in Stoke and Life is No Joke starring John Henshaw for JB Shorts in Manchester.

Instagram: @RobMarsdenTheatre
Web: www.robert-marsden.com

LAURA GRECIAN - CHOREOGRAPHER

Professional credits include: Dancer/Ensemble for Princess Cruise Line - various ships; Ensemble in Mother Goose (Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock); Dance Captain Mother Goose, Aladdin and Cinderella (Regent Theatre, Stoke) for FFE; Spirit of the Dance (UK tour) Spirit Productions; Ensemble, Beauty and The Beast (Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl) for Imagine Theatre.

Choreography credits include: One Night of Robbie Williams (UK and European tour) for EMR Productions; Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington (Rugeley Rose Theatre); Into the Woods (Stoke Rep); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Beauty and the Beast (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); Fame and Bugsy Malone (Stage Experience (Milton Keynes Theatre).

Laura has worked as a choreographer and assistant director for Imagine Theatre since 2009 at Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl, Crewe Lyceum Theatre and Victoria Theatre, Halifax alongside Robert Marsden and David Haller.

Laura runs a performing arts studio in Staffordshire and heads up to the dance programme at Newcastle-Under-Lyme school and is also Associate lecturer at Staffordshire University as movement director for many productions including: Othello, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Man of Mode, The Merchant of Venice, The Rover, Spring Awakening and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Laura is delighted to be back in Halifax this season and cannot wait to see audiences enjoying Beauty and the Beast.  

DAVID HALLER - MUSICAL DIRECTOR

David is a Musical Director, Composer and Actor from North Yorkshire. He trained in Actor Musicianship at the Guildford School of Acting. In addition to his freelance theatre work, David lectures and MDs at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Credits include: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); The Misadventures of Pinocchio (The Bohemians, regional tour); Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (Victoria Theatre, Halifax); Cinderella: A Fairy Tale, Treasure Island, Pinocchio, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Greenwich Theatre); Swallows and Armenians (Cumbria Opera Group); Company, Into The Woods, Indecent (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama); Beauty and the Beast, Puss in Boots (Belgrade Theatre); A Place Called England (Barewater Productions); With, Without (Barrow and Ireland).

David is thrilled to be back for his sixth Imagine pantomime, and his fourth at the Victoria Theatre!

TOBY P DARVILL - LIGHTING DESIGNER

Lighting Design for Imagine Theatre:
Justin Live (UK Tour); Beauty and the Beast (Halifax); Peter Pan (Leamington Spa); Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Kilmarnock); Aladdin (Hayes); and Beauty and the Beast (Hayes).

Other Lighting Design credits include: Personality (Southbank Centre); Spring Awakening 15th Anniversary Concert (Victoria Palace); Cool Rider (London Palladium); House of Cleopatra, and You & It (Assembly Checkpoint); The Book of Mountain and Seas (Pleasance Courtyard); Drop Dead Gorgeous (Pleasance Dome); Beauty and the Beast (Hayes); Sleeping Beauty, and Blippi (Harold Pinter Theatre); Aladdin (DG1, Dumfries); Don’t Tell Grandma (Chiswick Playhouse); Sam Bailey, Tony Christie, Jane McDonald (Cyprus Tour); Grease, and Addams Family (Wycombe Swan). 

Associate Lighting Design / Programmer: Treason (UK Tour & London Palladium); Into The Woods (Wycombe Swan).

Production Electrician / Re-lighter: The Cher Show, Crown Jewels, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Hairspray, La Bamba, Let It Be, 20th Century Boy (UK Tour); and Circus 1903 (Saudi Arabia).

www.tobypdarvill.com        @tobydarvill_lx

LISA CONNELL - FIGHT DIRECTOR

Lisa trained at the Guilford School of Acting and has been fight directing for over 20 years.

She also works as a stunt performer so now moves between theatre, television, film and motion capture work.

Fight Direction: 13 going on 30 - UK premiere (Manchester Opera House); Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief musical (The Other Palace and UK tour); Heathers (New world Stages- New York, West End and UK tour); Frontline (LAMDA);  Filumena (UK tour); Bedroom Farce (Queen’s Theatre); Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth (LAMDA); Peter Pan (Venue Cymru); Carmen (WNO - Wales Millennium Centre and UK tour); Beauty and the Beast (The Hexagon); Hamlet (The Dorfman Theatre and UK tour); Mephisto (Gate Theatre); Approaching Empty (Kiln Theatre); The Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar (RSC -First Encounters); The House of Inbetween (Theatre Royal Stratford).

TV and filming stunt credits include: Power of Parker 2, Millennium Diamond Heist, Waterloo Road, Miss Austen, Until I Kill you, Senua’s Saga- Hellblade 2, The Marvels, One More Shot, The Baby, Tuesday and more.

Musical Arrangements

Alec Roberts

Ed Watckins

Sound Design - Andy Graham of Orbital Sound

Company

Company Stage Manager - Heidi Thornton

Assistant Stage Manager - Abigail Kitwood

Deputy Stage Manager - Rebecca Maguire

Wardrobe Supervisor - Amy Hills

Wardrobe Assistant - Natalie Shapton

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST STAGE CREW

Technical Stage Manager – Keilidh Whyte

Chief Electrician – Darrell Adley

Stage Crew – Martyn Green, Will Bottomley, Maia Allen, Ross Grant & Ged Marescaux

Flys – Ben Garbett

LX Board Op – Joe Welsh

Sound No.1 – Craig Rothery

Follow Spot Operators – Jack Carter, Catherine Rimmer

Stage Door Keepers – Kathryn Jones, Nick Clay & Ben Hardick