A Coronation Street baddie will be joining the cast of this year’s Derby Arena panto.
Following the success of last year’s Aladdin performance, Derby Live and Little World Entertainment are following up with a pantomime featuring the popular fairytale character Mother Goose.
American-born actor Todd Boyce, famous for his roles in The Crown (Netflix), Sherlock (BBC) and most recently, playing the infamous killer Stephen Reid on Coronation Street, is set to join the cast as Demon Vanity.
Mr Boyce trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia, and first appeared in Coronation Street as Stephen Reid in 1996, making regular appearances on the soap over nearly three decades.
Derby’s award-winning pantomime dame, Morgan Brind, returns as the leading Mother Goose, a much-loved matriarch to her family in the fictional town of Sqwualkstone. Kristian Cunningham, returns to the stage after depicting 2022’s Aladdin, this time as Benedict.
Another star from 2022’s Aladdin, Nicola Martinus-Smith, who played Princess Amira, will return to portray Rosemary in this year’s show. Firm fan favourite Roddy Peters (Norman Ton in Sleeping Beauty) returns to Derby Arena as Baron Wasteland.
Derby Live hopes to “have the whole family honking with laughter” when the pantomime starts in December 2023.
A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “Mother Goose has a loving family who drive her quackers, a bird sanctuary for peaky poultry in the village of Squalkstone and even a magical goose that lays golden eggs. She has everything anyone could possibly wish for, except the one thing she really wants, to be beautiful,”
“The team behind previous smash-hit Derby Arena pantomimes are hatching a plan to make this the perfect action-packed adventure guaranteed to have the whole family honking with laughter.”
Mother Goose lands at Derby Arena on Friday, December 8, 2023. Tickets will cost between £18 and £30 each. Concessions, group and family tickets are available.
There are also a number of more accessible performances including audio description, BSL signed, captions and relaxed shows.
You can book online or in person at the sales and information centre at the Guildhall Theatre, Market Place, Derby DE1 3AF, or by calling on 01332 255800
