DAME MAUREEN LIPMAN AND PETE FIRMAN
TO HEADLINE RICHMOND PANTOMIME
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
SAT 7 DEC 2024 – SUN 5 JAN 2025
Richmond Theatre and Crossroads Pantomimes are delighted to welcome actress Dame Maureen Lipman back to Richmond Theatre to play Mrs Potty in this year’s family pantomime Beauty and the Beast. Maureen will be joined by comedy magician Pete Firman as Silly Billy from Saturday 7 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025.
Maureen Lipman last appeared in Richmond panto as the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty in 2016. Most recently, Maureen has been seen on the TV screens of millions playing the role of Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street.
Among Maureen’s film credits are Up the Junction, Educating Rita and the Pianist. She spent three years in Olivier’s Old Vic company, has appeared in over thirty West End plays and four one person shows including Re Joyce and Rose. She has starred in multiple sitcoms as well as the award winning TV plays of her late husband Jack Rosenthal and also filmed reality documentaries DNA Journey, Art Deco and Gogglebox. She has published 10 books and is the proud recipient of honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Hull, Salford, Sheffield and Tel Aviv. She was awarded a CBE in 1999 and a Damehood in 2020.
Commenting on the casting, Maureen said:
“They asked me to do Panto and I said ‘Oh no I can’t’ .…. they said ‘OH YES YOU CAN’”
No stranger to panto, Pete Firman is one of the UK’s leading comedian and magician as well as a TV regular. Pete first graced our screens in Channel 5’s groundbreaking series Monkey Magic and later starred in BBC One′s prime-time Saturday night series The Magicians. His unique blend of comedy and magic has seen him invited to perform on countless TV programmes, including Tonight at the London Palladium (ITV1), The John Bishop Show (BBC One), Tommy Cooper Forever (ITV1), The Sarah Millican Television Programme (BBC2), Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live (BBC3) and The Magic Show Story (ITV1) amongst many others and presents CITV’s smash hit immersive gameshow Don’t Unleash The Beast.
The Richmond Theatre panto is once again staged by the world’s biggest pantomime producer Crossroads Pantomimes, whose Chief Executive Michael Harrison said:
“With the comic talents of Maureen Lipman and Pete Firman combined I have absolutely no doubt that Beauty and The Beast at Richmond Theatre is going to be a truly hilarious Christmas treat for all the family.”
Richmond Theatre’s Theatre Director, Allie Long, said:
“This is truly a perfect pairing for our pantomime, particularly during Richmond Theatre’s 125th birthday year. We are delighted to welcome back Maureen Lipman after her much-loved 2016 performances, and along with Pete Firman’s comedy and magic talents are confident that Richmond audiences will have a fabulous festive time at this year’s pantomime!”
Beauty and the Beastfollows Belle who finds herself transported to a cursed castle and held captive by a hideous beast. To her surprise, the castle is full of magical characters placed under a spell by an evil enchantress. Can Belle see beyond the monster and fall in love with her captor before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose? Or will the Beast’s selfishness cost him the world he once knew and the hand of the girl who has melted his heart?
Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients Richmond audiences expect, Beauty and the Beast features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.
Beauty and the Beast comes to Richmond Theatre this December.
Tickets are on sale now from £13, To book visit https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/