Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham
St Peter's Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PY
Polka Dot Pantomimes in association with the Guildhall Arts Centre are delighted to present this year’s spellbinding family pantomime BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Celebrating 10 YEARS as the Pantomime Dame in Grantham, JOHN HIGHTON returns as Dolly Doughnut. He will be joined by some very special pooch pals who will be playing Belle’s best friend. The show features spectacular scenery, glittering costumes, amazing special effects and plenty of audience participation! This is family pantomime at its best, so book your tickets now and be our guest for Grantham’s finest festive treat!
Beauty and the Beast Programme
Polka Dot Pantomimes are delighted to welcome you to the Guildhall Arts Centre and this production of Beauty and the Beast. This is the sixteenth pantomime we have produced here and every year continues to be more exciting and popular! We hope that you will enjoy watching this tale as old as time as much as we have enjoyed producing it.
For the 2024/2025 season we are producing eight professional pantomimes in Spalding, Bolton, Grantham, Harpenden, Grays, Hastings, Cannock and Bristol. Our pantomimes are consistently of the highest standards and we are delighted that every year we get to work with exceptionally talented performers, wonderful theatre staff, dedicated and hard working backstage teams, and our amazing creative teams - all of who put 100% effort into making our shows accessible and successful! Oh and noit forgetting our amazing dogs and their trainers Andrea and Nicci in this production – they are pawesome!
Since 2005 we have produced professional productions of Aladdin, Jack & The Beanstalk, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Wizard of Oz, Rapunzel, Dick Whittington and Beauty and the Beast.
We are delighted to be producing professional pantomime at the Guildhall Arts Centre again this year and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting your local theatre – we appreciate you spending your time with us and choosing to watch this production –
THANK YOU!
From all of us at Polka Dot Pantomimes, we hope you enjoy this wonderful show and we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2025!
History of Beauty and the Beast
Like Cinderella, the tale of Beauty and the Beast is one of the best-known stories in the world. The history of Beauty and the Beast is quite different from the other stories in the popular fairytale canon.
The earliest versions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and many others are lost in the pre-Gutenberg era with just a few recorded versions hinting at elusive histories. Many scholars post that those tales began as folklore, passed from generation to generation, from storyteller to storyteller, until enterprising authors published them on rare occasions, capturing them on paper for us to read and enjoy centuries later.
Beauty and the Beast, on the other hand, did not start out strictly as folklore, although it incorporates folkloric elements. It has a discernible birth and history, beginning in 1740 with Madame Gabriel le-Suzanne de Villeneuve, a French writer influenced by the fairytales written by authors, such as Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy and Charles Perrault, in the French salons during the earlier part of the century.
Villeneuve's story did not remain exclusively hers, for it provided the building blocks for another writer, Madame Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, in 1757. While Villeneuve's primary audience was adults, Beaumont’s was children with a didactic message about good manners and behaviour as well as physical beauty. Ultimately, Beaumont greatly bridged and rewrote the tale, giving us the version so well recognised today, but her version wouldn't have existed without Villeneuve's original work.
In the end, Beauty and the Beast continues to be shared and retold to each new generation. New picture books, new novels, and new films appear on a regular basis, exploring the tale, some finding new meanings and subverting old ones while others cherish the original.
Our version of Beauty and the Beast is a spellbinding story of a selfish prince who is destined to spend the rest of his life hidden in his castle in the guise of a grotesque beast. Resourceful, the heroine Belle, our Beauty, rushes to the rescue with her madcap pals. Can our heroine save the day and learn to love the Beast?
We hope you find our version of this classic tale C'est Magnifique!
Principal Cast
DOLLY DOUGHNUT - John Highton
John is from Derby where he lives with his wife Jo. He has three children; James, Annabelle and Molly.
Pantomime credits include: Abanazer and Widow Twankey in Aladdin, Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk, Dame Dolly Doughnut in Beauty and the Beast, Nurse Nelly in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mrs. Smee in Peter Pan, Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington and Ugly Sister in Cinderella.
Other theatre credits include: Farmer Jones in Animal farm - Derby Playhouse; George Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor - Robert Ludlum Theatre; Al Jolson in California here I come - UK tour; Baron Silas Greenback & Colonel K, in Dangermouse saves the World - UK tour; Rivers in Richard the third - Robert Ludlum Theatre; Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet - UK tour; Ghost of Christmas present in A Christmas Carol - Dudley Castle; Gerry Lafferty in the world premiere of One Show More - Stoke Rep Theatre; Rogers in And Then There Were None- Stoke Rep Theatre.
Commercial credits include: Volkswagen, Santander, Marston’s, Plumb Center, Shearings Coaches, Quotient Clinical, Motorhome Depot, Eon and Marketing Derby.
John is also a Video Game motion capture and voice over artist appearing in titles including: Beijing 2008, Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace,007 Legends, Dead Space, G force, Harry Potter, Rio and Homefront Revolution.
Last year John played Widow Twankey in Polka Dot Pantomimes production of Aladdin here at the Guildhall. He is thrilled to be returning to the Guildhall once again to play Dolly Doughnut in his 10th Guildhall pantomime and is looking forward to seeing all the wonderful Grantham audiences again. Oh yes he is!
John is currently playing Nick Massi in an all singing and dancing tribute act to the Four Seasons (The Jersey Boys) telling the story of the rise to fame of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
John would like to thank his family and friends for their support.
BELLE - Caroline True
Caroline was enrolled in dance classes at two and a half years old and hasn’t looked back! Since graduating with a degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre from The Urdang Academy in 2017, Caroline has enjoyed performing all over the world. She has appeared in pantomimes, workshops for new musicals, Leona Lewis’ Christmas With Love tour, and, for the last five years, as a Lead Vocalist onboard AIDA Cruises. Caroline was very fortunate to visit over fifty countries during this time, perform over twenty different shows with ensembles and bands, and create solo sets.
Following her last ship contract, Caroline has moved up to Great Gonerby and taken a brief step back from performing to enjoy newlywed life! Caroline would like to thank her friends and family for their ever wonderful support in her latest performing venture. She is very excited to play the role of Belle in her Grantham debut!
FRENCH FRANC - James Highton
James has been performing for the last 10 years either in musical theatre, or performing in his own solo cabaret set.
James lives in Spondon, Derby and is absolutely thrilled to be returning to the Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham this Christmas for Beauty and the Beast, after last appearing as one of the Ugly Sisters alongside his Dad, John in Cinderella in the 2019/2020 season.
Also alongside his Dad John, James performs as Frankie Valli in a touring Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute act!
He thanks all his family and friends for all the constant support.
MAURICE - Richard Kort
Richard trained at the Guildford School of Acting on the Musical Theatre course. His first job was as a member of the junior revue company working on the Butlins circuit His first summer season was as a chorus member in the ‘Golden Days of Music Hall‘ at the Spa Theatre in Scarborough. Following this, Richard was lucky enough to gain the role of Gad in Bill Kenwright’s national tour of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, a role he played for five years. He also understudied the role of Narrator, a role he played many times including a full weeks run at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
He was a member of the original London and touring cast of ‘Robin Prince of Sherwood‘ which had a year’s run at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End, and a cast performance on an episode of ‘Blue Peter’ just before opening night, earned him a coveted Blue Peter badge!
After a few years away starting his own business as a theatre agent Richard was lucky enough to be asked to play Alderman Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington at the Grantham Guildhall in 2018 for Polka Dot Pantomimes. In 2019 he returned as Baron Hardup in Cinderella, then played King Bumble in Jack and the Beanstalk, King Crumble in Rapunzel and last year returned as the Emperor in Aladdin.
He is thrilled to be returning for his sixth panto season at Grantham in this year’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
JACK THOMAS – GRIMALKIN
Hello everyone! So, I’ve always wanted to be a performer/entertainer from a very young age. I studied musical theatre, dance, singing and music from the very beginning and things began to blossom from there. It wasn’t until I went to university that my performance career really took off and my drag persona Bailey La Creame was released into the world.
My drag lifestyle started in a small local bar in my uni town of Carlisle. Performing once or twice a month, it was a slow start, but everyone starts somewhere. After a few months working the scene, I was head hunted by a company in Turkey called “Talk Of The Town”! I immediately said yes to this amazing opportunity as the thought of sun, sand and stage was too good to pass up!
From there I worked with touring companies all over the United Kingdom from “The Full Diamonty” cabaret show to “The Dazzling Diamonds” UK Tour Show as well as maintaining my work overseas and performing in pantomimes.
I’ve been so lucky to work alongside so many fantastic entertainers and I believe that these experiences have made me the entertainer I am today!
I’m so lucky to continue to do the job I love with the support of my friends and loving family! So, here’s to many more years, plenty of laughter and more pairs of tights than I’d care to mention!
I leave you with this advice… “You define your own life, never let other people write your story!”
Company Credits – “Regency Showbar” “Outrageous Showbar” “Talk Of The Town” “The Full Diamonty” “The Dazzling Diamonds” “ Stardust Variety Show”
Find me on Social Media:
Instagram @Baileylacreame
Facebook @Baileylacreame
Tiktok @bailey.la.creame
PRINCE LUCIAN - Tom Lane
Tom trained at Mountview and has worked in a selection of plays and films since graduating a few years ago, and is thrilled to be performing for the first time in his hometown of Grantham. Tom is excited to share in the audience's festive experience this year and be part of such a fun and exciting show. He feels pantomime is such a fantastic tradition and an incredible way to bring new audiences to theatre, hopefully inspiring a younger generation to have fun and be creative along the way. He is also looking forward to being at home for Christmas… a rarity in panto-land!
Credits include; Romeo and Juliet (Stafford Gatehouse), Lies on the Line (Feature Film), The Red Ball (Short Film), The Storm Drain (Short Film), The Snow Queen (Tour), Macbeth (The Attic Theatre), An Acquired Taste (Patch Plays), Snow White (Trio Entertainment)
Credits whilst training include: The Daughter In-Law, Romeo and Juliet, Clybourne Park, Measure for Measure, Great Expectations
FAIRY FABULOUS - Kimberley Ensor
Kimberley trained at Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts, gaining a BA Hons in Performance,Musical Theatre.
Credits whilst training:
Alex/Ensemble in Witches of Eastwick (The Albany Theatre), Pirates Of Penzance (Vauxhall Church theatre), Ensemble in Hair (The Karamel Club
Theatre credits include:
Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (English Theatre Frankfurt), Uzo in Godspell (Ye Olde Rose and Crown), Rosie in Mamma Mia (Royal Carribean Cruise lines), Dragon in Shrek (The Gaiety Theatre), Dance captain/Samantha in Happy Ending (Arcola Theatre), Miss Sherman in Fame (Gordon Craig Theatre), Voice of Sonia in They're playing our song (Yvonne Arnaud Mill Studio Theatre), Mrs Curtain in A Man of No Importance (The Union Theatre/Arts theatre transfer), Ensemble/Cover Maureen in Rent (The Broadway Theatre), Ensemble in HMS Pinafore (Battersea Barge), Wendy Jo in Footloose (Gordon Craig Theatre), Ensemble in Sweeney Todd (The Union Theatre).
Production shows include:
Tina in GLEE:Live (The Gaiety Theatre), Ensemble in Hits of the 70's and 80's (Blackpool Pier) Vanilla Sundae in 'The Sundaes'(Balaerics tour)
Tv credits include:
Member of the Supergroup on Don't Stop Believing (Channel 5)
Pantomime credits:
Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (The Regal Tenbury Theatre), Fairy Bowbells in Dick Whittington (Kenton Theatre), Fairy Bowbells in Dick Whittington (New Victoria theatre)
Workshop credits include:
Arachne in Medusa The Legend (Above The Stag), The Countess in The Countess, Ensemble in Footballers Wives, Ensemble/Various roles in Spooky Noises
Audio Credits:
Doreen in Skin lll: The Final Incision (Umbrella Rooms), Mrs Evans / Bride Of Dracula 2 / Sister Agatha and Helga in Dracula (Umbrella Rooms)
She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.
Kimberley is really excited to be playing ‘Fairy Fabulous’ here in Grantham this Christmas, and she hopes you all enjoy the show.
DASH AND HONEY
Dash and Honey are delighted to be playing the part of Belle’s best friend! They are both Maltese crosses, and super friendly so they will really enjoy all the cuddles and fuss from Belle and her pals. Dash is just three years old and has already been to Crufts twice, and done heelwork to music demos, as well as starting to compete in agility. His sister Honey has the best ears in doggy showbiz and loves to dance, do agility and roll in mud (whoops). She has been in panto twice before and is really looking forward to entertaining everyone for Christmas 2024!
MILO
Milo is two and a half year old crossbreed - he is a mix of Tibetan terrier Chinese crested papillon collie and poodle - but we just call him a floof! He trains heelwork to music (dog dancing) and has performed around the country and recently came 4th in his very first competition. He lives with two collies and he has no trouble keeping up with them! He is a cheeky chappie - full of character and gives the best snuggles! Milo performed in the Spalding pantomime last year and can’t wait to reprise his role as Belle’s best friend.
Ensemble
RACHEL HOLMES – PROFESSIONAL DANCER & UNDERSTUDY
Rachel is an Irish born performer, from a small told in County Kilkenny.
She has been dancing for as long as she can remember, graduating from her Professional training in dance and performing arts in 2022 at Morea Performing Arts in Cheltenham.
Rachel has just come from a season working on the entertainment cast for Haven Holiday Parks and is excited to be back in the Guildhall Arts Centre for her 3rd year of performing as a dancer/ Understudy here with Polka Dot Pantomimes and the amazing casts and crew in Grantham.
JOSEPH SNAPE – PROFESSIONAL DANCER & UNDERSTUDY
Joe is very thrilled to be returning to the Guildhall for a second season and would like to thank his agent for making it all happen.
Training :
Emil Dale academy of performing arts // Stratford Upon Avon performing arts // The school of Ballet Theatre UK
Credits:
Tenor Production Vocalist / Kiln Park / Bourne leisure 2024
Professional Dancer & Understudy / Aladdin 2023 / Darren O’Sullivan / Polka Dot Pantomimes / The Guildhall Arts Centre
Assistant Director / Narrator / Milky White Puppeteer/ Into the wood / Norma Atallah 2023/ Emil Dale
Carney / A man of no importance / Nick Evans 2023 / Emil Dale
Jigger / Carousel / Stephan Boyce 2022/ Emil Dale
Chorus/ Romeo and Juliet / Kate Shelton 2022/ Emile Dale
Film credits :
James / The Other Woman 2022/ direction by Cameron Lee / Horace film productions / 10 award nominations
Leo / Living as Leo 2021 / Directed by Cameron Lee/ Horace film productions
John / Sam and Dan get lost 2021/ Home-bird productions/ directed by Lee price / awarded best feature film 2022 MMA
Joe would also like to thank his Mum and Dad for their continuous support.
ALEX COOK – PROFESSIONAL DANCER & UNDERSTUDY
Alex started dancing in her hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland. She entered full time training at Morea Performing Arts at the age of 17, where in her graduating year she was one of the recipients of the Lyn Richardson Scholarship. Training in a wide variety of styles as well as in singing and acting, she has had the privilege of working with teachers and choreographers including Katie Morea, Alan Burkitt, Jack Evans and Nazene Langfield. Alex is an experienced dance captain and studied for her ISTD ballet, modern and tap teaching qualifications. In addition to performing, Alex has a passion for choreography, with her college collaborative project showcased in 2Faced Dance Multi-Story Youth Arts Festival, and she has choreographed pieces for LSC West Midlands Associates showcase for the last two years.
Alex is so excited to be returning to Grantham panto for her fourth year. She would like to thank Richard Kort and everyone at Polka Dot Pantomimes for all their love and support.
HARRY STANTON – PROFESSIONAL DANCER & UNDERSTUDY
Harry Stanton started dancing at 3 years old at Kilburn School of Dance and has recently graduated from Performers College. As a young performer, Harry appeared in a number of pantomime seasons, and also played principal roles in amateur productions. Last year, Harry was ensemble and understudy in Jack and the Beanstalk, Sevenoaks.
Production Team
DIRECTOR: DARREN O’SULLIVAN
CHOREOGRAPHER: CASEY CONNOLLY
WRITERS: DARREN MADDISON, PHIL NORTON & LUKE ATTWOOD
MUSICAL SUPERVISOR: STEVE HESSION
VOCAL COACH: BETHANIE NEWMAN
SCENERY: PAUL LAZELL
COSTUMES: POLKA DOT PANTOMIMES
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER: ANNIE BARRATT
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER: AMY BUKAVS
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: SAMUEL HOWARTH
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: LINDSAY HILEY
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: HANNAH ELWIN
Polka Dot Pantomimes
COMPANY DIRECTOR: DARREN MADDISON
PRODUCER: CATHERINE MAYER
TECHNICAL PRODUCER: BEV A.M. PASKELL
FINANCE: HELEN WRIGHT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: TONY MAYER
ADMINISTRATOR: ELAINE BARRON-CLARK
HEAD OF CASTING: LUKE ATTWOOD
SOCIAL MEDIA: JOEY RODAK
MUSICAL SUPERVISOR: STEVE HESSION
Scene Synopsis
ACT ONE
Prologue – THE STORY SO FAR!
Scene 1 - THE VILLAGE SQUARE
Scene 2 – THE ROAD TO THE CASTLE
Scene 3 – BELLE’S HOME
Scene 4 – THE ROAD TO THE CASTLE
Scene 5 – THE BEAST’S GARDENS
ACT 2
Scene 1 – THE STORY SO FAR!
Scene 2 – THE CASTLE BALLROOM
Scene 3 – THE SPOOKY WOODS
Scene 4 – GRIMALKIN’S LAIR
Scene 5 – FAIRYLAND
Scene 6 – THE CASTLE BALLROOM
Scene 7 – SONG SHEET
Scene 8 - THE CASTLE BALLROOM
Song List
ACT ONE
Song 1 – OVERTURE
Song 2 – DON’T STOP ME NOW
Song 3 – ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Song 4 – THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND
Song 5 – DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE
Song 6 – WELCOME TO THE CASTLE
ACT 2
Song 7 – ENTERACTE
Song 8 – IF I WERE NOT UPON THE STAGE
Song 9 – MY UNIVERSE
Song 10– MY UNIVERSE REPRISE
Song 11 – TEXAS HELD EM GHOST GAG
Song 12 – I AM WHAT I AM
Song 13 – WHEN YOU BELIEVE
Song 14 – THE TRANSFORMATION
Song 15 – ABOUT YOU NOW
Song 16 – MUSIC MAN
Song 17 – I’M A BELIEVER BOWS
Song 18 – ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE REPRISE
Special Thanks
Guildhall management: Jade Porter & Jakub Chrzanowski
Guildhall marketing team: Sophie Byrne & Eli Barret
Administration: Tracy Purdy
Guildhall Duty Officers: Dawn Noutch, Emma Darban, Suzette Clack, Fintan McCoy-Brown & Susie McCahon
Guildhall FOH assistants: Tracey Davies, Laura Bradbury, Sharon Antony, Val Markham
Guildhall cleaning team: Agnieszka Madejska, Przemyslaw Kukla & Susie Mann
Lighting and sound: Laura Short and Sean Watterson supported by Soph Ferguson and the tech volunteers and all Guildhall Theatre Volunteers
Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance
Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance is incredibly grateful to Polka Dot Pantomimes and The Guildhall Arts Centre Team for giving us the opportunity to raise vital funds for our live saving services during their Pantomimes. Since 1994 our crews have responded to over 30,000 potentially life-saving missions providing pre-hospital emergency care across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It costs £13million to keep our helicopter in the air and fleet of critical care cars on the road 24/7, seven days a week. Thank you for your generous support.
