The annual Palladium Panto to star Catherine Tate, Julian Clary, Rob Madge, Emily Lane, Jon Culshaw, Amonik Melaco, Nigel Havers, and Paul Zerdin
West End impresario Michael Harrison has announced that this year’s Palladium Panto will be Sleeping Beauty.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Palladium Panto, which has become an annual festive tradition for hundreds of thousands of London theatregoers.
This year’s pantomime will be headlined by star of stage and screen Catherine Tate (Doctor Who, The Catherine Tate Show), playing the wicked fairy Carabosse, who puts a curse on Princess.
Sleeping Beauty is playing for 60 performances only at the London Palladium, from 6 December 2025 to 11 January 2026.
Palladium panto regular Julian Clary will also be back this year, playing King Julian; as will Paul Zerdin as The Great Zerdini, Nigel Havers as the Keeper of the Privy, and Rob Madge as The Diva of Dreams.
Also joining this year’s Palladium Panto company is comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw, playing King Julian’s private detective; West End star Emily Lane (Frozen, Hello Dolly!) as Princess Beauty; and up-and-coming actor and dancer Amonik Melaco (Austenland, Nutcracker!, Robin Hood) as the Prince.
Further casting is to be announced.
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Both Tate and Clary will contribute to the show’s script, alongside Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison, who also produces and directs.
Joining Michael Harrison in the creative team will be set design by Mark Walters, costume design by Hugh Durrant, Ron Briggs, Teresa Nolton and Mike Coltman, choreography by Karen Bruce, visual special effects by The Twins FX, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Matt Peploe, and composition and orchestrations by Gary Hind.
The Palladium’s 2024 panto, Robin Hood, scored an Olivier Award nomination this year, and is up for Best Costume Design at next month’s awards.
Catherine Tate said in a statement: “After seeing last year’s Palladium panto, I just couldn’t resist being part of this fabulous tradition – especially for its very special 10th season! I’m super excited to be in Sleeping Beauty – it’s going to be so much fun, especially getting to play the baddie and share the stage with the wonderful Julian Clary. Roll on rehearsals – I can’t wait to get started!”
Producer and director Michael Harrison said: “Since we returned pantomime to The London Palladium, the response of our wonderful audiences has been thrilling. Now, as we begin preparations for our tenth production, I can’t wait to welcome Catherine Tate to the company of Sleeping Beauty, and also to thank everyone who has contributed to bringing pantomime so magnificently back to London’s home of variety. We plan to celebrate our 10th anniversary in true Palladium Panto style, and will be pulling out all the stops to mark this incredible milestone with the scale and spectacle that our audiences so enjoy. Every single seat, including all our standing room, sold out for last year’s Robin Hood……so don’t sleep on getting tickets!”
Sleeping Beauty is running at the London Palladium from 6 December 2025 to 11 January 2026.
More about Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium
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