The Victoria Theatre Halifax is thrilled to announce some of the cast of this year's magical pantomime Beauty and the Beast
The Victoria Theatre Halifax is thrilled to announce that Andrew Pollard will return for his second year as Dame in this year’s magical pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, playing the fabulous Dame Madeline Marzipan. He will be joined by Matthew Allen in his first Victoria Theatre panto in which he takes on the comic role of French Frank. They are being joined by a familiar face, Sam Willison, who is reprising the role of the Prince/Beast which he last played at the venue in 2019. Running from 12 December 2025 to 04 January 2026, the show promises to be a laugh-out-loud festive treat for the whole family.
Andrew is a seasoned actor, writer, and director with a celebrated career on stage and screen. He has played iconic roles such as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days on Broadway and toured nationally in numerous productions. A true panto aficionado, as a writer, director and actor, 2019 saw Andrew win an OFFIE award for Best London pantomime in 2019. Andrew wrote, directed, and played Dame at Greenwich Theatre for 15 years, winning the OFFIE for Best London Pantomime. He also scooped up the Great British Panto Award for Best Ugly Sister in 2023. This year alone, he is writing five pantomimes for theatres across the country.
Yorkshireman Andrew, who had the audience rolling in the aisles last year, is thrilled to return to the Victoria Theatre and says: “I’m so excited to be back doing panto on my home turf once again! I had such a blast last year with the terrific team at the Victoria Theatre and can’t wait to bring all the laughs and slapstick to the ‘tale as old as time’ - Beauty and the Beast!”
This will be Matthew’s first pantomime with Imagine Theatre and is delighted to be performing at The Victoria Theatre, He says “I am so ecstatic to be performing in the beautiful, historic Victoria Theatre this Christmas. It’s a big moment for me, performing for the very first time with the incredible Halifax panto crowd! I am so excited to have a laugh and loads of fun with you all this holiday season!”
Since his last appearance in the Victoria Theatre panto Sam Willison has been touring the world performing on Cruise Liners, most recently appearing as Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice the Musical. Sam says “I am so excited to be returning to the Victoria Theatre Halifax this year as it was where I made my panto debut and it is such a special theatre to me for that reason. The Halifax audiences are amazing and I can’t wait spend my Christmas there again this year.”
Beauty and the Beast will once again be produced by Imagine Theatre who have been bringing panto magic to Halifax for over a decade, with much-loved productions including Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, and Cinderella.
When an arrogant prince is cursed to live as a beast, his only hope of salvation is to find love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. Can village girl Belle see beyond appearances and learn to love a beast?
Expect a festive feast packed with dazzling costumes, toe-tapping tunes, side-splitting comedy, and all the classic panto fun we all love. Make memories this festive season with this fun-filled Christmas cracker sure to be the hottest ticket in West Yorkshire for Christmas 2025.
To find out more and book tickets visit victoriatheatre.co.uk
