Nicki French
Fairy Godmother
Nicki is probably best-known for her dance track Total Eclipse of the Heart, which topped charts around the world in 1995. In 2000 she was the UK’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden with Don’t Play that Song Again. Nicki didn’t win the Contest itself, but her chance to be a Eurovision winner came a few years later, when she won the celebrity edition of BBC’s The Weakest Link – Eurovision Special in 2004, raising an amazing £13,000 for Cancer Research. She is frequently invited onto TV and radio programmes for her comments in the leadup to Eurovision each year, and co-hosts the huge annual London Eurovision Party with Paddy O’Connell. She still works regularly either solo or with her live band around the world, and just last month returned to her ‘second home’ of Brazil for a hugely successful tour. Individual single releases from the 2018 album Glitter to the Neon Lights led to many number one slots in the iTunes charts, and earlier this year, her album simply called Eurovision put her back at the top again. A brand new album is planned for release in early 2024.
Nicki has appeared on TV in many countries around the world, presenting, singing live – or being interviewed. In the past 15 years she has also been in demand for her acting, as well as her singing skills, and has managed to combine the two with some wonderful theatre roles, playing eight different parts in the UK tour of Annie, three of the four characters in Menopause the Musical (UK & Ireland tours), Ethel Merman in Gee, But It’s Good to be Here – An Audience With Ethel Merman (Trent House, Newcastle), Helga ten Dorp in Deathtrap (Brookside Theatre, Romford), Sarah in Dirty Dating.com (UK tour). In early 2020, she began a tour with a brand new show – Menopause the Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause taking the role of Power Woman, when sadly the tour had to be halted due to the Covid-19 restrictions. The show finally was able to resume in 2022, and played to packed and appreciative houses around the UK and Ireland for a full (and exhausting) six months.
Nicki LOVES her panto seasons! Having played Fairy Godmother, Dandini and other ‘good’ roles, she then discovered how much fun it was playing the baddie! She has co-starred with Bobby Crush, Bernie Clifton, Collabro’s Jamie Lambert, Syd Little, Leah Bracknell, Neil & Christine Hamilton, Matt Evers and Jonathan Ansell in various panto seasons, and this year is looking forward to returning to the ‘good’ side and sprinkling some fairy magic over you all!
Chris Edgerley
Buttons
Following his award-winning turn as Chester The Jester in Sleeping Beauty at The Elgiva last year, Chris is back as Buttons!
Chris presented the hit children’s TV Show Hi-5 which aired on CiTV/ITV4/Cartoonito/and Boomerang Channels for many years. All episodes are now on YouTube ‘Hi-5 UK Chris’. Other TV shows include Emmerdale (Yorkshire Television).
Chris trained at Arts Educational School of Acting (3 Year BA Hons) and East 15 Acting School.
Chris theatre credits include The Bodyguard the Musical (UK Tour 2018-2020 with Alexandra Burke), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air), Macbeth (Regent’s Park Open Air), Enjoy (Watford Palace), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (France Tour), Lady Be Good (Regent’s Park Open Air), Aida/La traviata/Falstaff/Don Pasquale/Così fan tutte/Flames of Paris/La Bayadère/Idomeneo/The Tales of Hoffmann (all at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden), Again and Against (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs), Lean (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Hi-5 (West End/Hammersmith Apollo/UK & International Tour).
You can currently spot Chris on commercials for BWM, Premier Inn and Verisure Alarms. Other commercials include GAME, Visit Britain 2022, HolidayCottages.com, Ford, Snap Fitness, VO5, Evercade, Synergy, Vision Direct, Listers Windows & Doors, Karcher, HP Notebook, Panasonic, Hyundai, Paddy Power and Birds Eye Potato Waffles.
Chris loves Panto and says he has had the thrill of playing the roles Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk (Horsham), Aladdin in Aladdin (three years for UK Productions in Malvern, Mansfield and Rhyl), Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (Lowestoft), Dick in Dick Whittington (Dorking), Robin Hood in Robin Hood (UK Easter Tour), Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (Blackpool/and Liverpool), Hawkins in Treasure Island (Eastbourne), Wishee Washee in Aladdin (Fareham), Dandini in Cinderella (Liverpool Arena), and Buttons in Cinderella (Maidstone).
Chris would like to dedicate this performance to his young nephews Ethan and Mason, and thank his loving family and wonderful friends for their support. You can find Chris @ChrisEdgerley and visit his website www.ChrisEdgerley.com. Enjoy the show!
Laura Bazely
Cinderella
Laura is very excited to be back at The Elgiva this Christmas playing Cinderella, after winning a “Best Principle Girl” award as Princess Beauty in 2022.
Her year has been very exciting playing various roles such as Alice in Alice in Wonderland and featuring in a new and exciting short film called Good Luck Nelle in the role of Tilly. While 2023 has offered Laura lots of opportunities, she is excited to be back home in Pantoland for another year!
Adam Pritchard
Prince Charming
Adam is very excited to be making his pantomime debut as Prince Charming…
Oh no he isn’t ! Oh yes he is!
After finishing a cruise contract as a lead vocalist and travelling the world for six months, Adam is ready to get his feet on the ground in the UK and make his mark in the pantomime industry!
When he is not performing, Adam can be seen working at The Lichfield Garrick Theatre in Staffordshire as a Front of House Team Member, on the bar, or even backstage working either as a follow spot operator or as part of the stage crew!
Adam holds a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre Performance from the University of Chichester Conservatoire.
His credits include Lead Vocalist on Viking Cruises (David Michael Productions).
Gemma Brodrick
The Baroness
The Elgiva’s favourite baddie is back! (Boo! Hiss!). Fresh from the 2023 UK tour of Blood Brothers, Gemma will be casting a haughty eye over panto proceedings as the Baroness.
Gemma trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Acting.
Television and Film credits include: ‘Pauline’ in Cilla (ITV) ‘Karen’ in The Good Karma Hospital (ITV) ‘Shona’ in 4 O’Clock Club (CBBC) ‘Michaela’ in Sex & the Chippy (Lime Pictures) ‘Mrs Lyons’ in Blood Brothers In Focus (Digital Theatre) ‘Maisy’ in Crownton Dobbie ‘Young Annie’ in Stalin My Neighbour and ‘Julie’ in Suburban Gothic.
Theatre credits include: ‘Alyssa’ in Our Lady Of Blundellsands (Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, original cast) ‘Donna Marie / Miss Jones / US Mrs Lyons’ in Blood Brothers (UK Tour) ‘Pauline’ in Cilla The Musical (UK Tour, original cast) ‘Amy’ in Lost Soul 2 (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool) ‘Dot’ in Yellow Breck Road (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool) ‘Polly Nichols’ in RIP (Kings Head Theatre, London) Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future in A Christmas Carol (53Two, Manchester) ‘Sasha’ in Secrets (Epstein Theatre) ‘Paris’ in Desperate Scousewives (Floral Pavillion Theatre) ‘Princess Aurora’ in Sleeping Beauty (Echo Arena) ‘Sasha’ in Escorts the Musical (Tour) ‘Balladeer’ in Assassins (Chelsea Theatre, London) ‘Mary McGinty’ in Once a Catholic (Landor Theatre, London) ‘Tina’ in Beside the Seaside (Unity Theatre) ‘Little Red’ in Red Riding Hood (Liverpool Actors Studio Theatre) ‘Fuscia Groan’ in Gormenghast (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) ‘Lead Vocalist’ in Be Our Guest (Tour) ‘Lead Vocalist’ in Musicals in the Night (Tour). Additional theatre credits include: Twopence to cross the Mersey (Empire theatre); Oliver! (Playhouse Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Playhouse Theatre).
Gemma wrote and performed the critically acclaimed one woman musical comedy Don’t Cha Wish Your Scouser Was Boss Like Me at 53Two, Manchester and The Kings Head Theatre, London.
Follow Gemma on Twitter and Instagram @GemmaBrodrick
Alexander Smith
Claudia
Alexander ran away to the theatre as a child, training with west London’s Young Blood Theatre Company, his first production being The Wiz, in which he played a Flying Monkey and a Munchkin. Alongside the company he gained the chance to perform at venues such as Riverside Studios, the Lyric Hammersmith and the Pleasance Edinburgh. After some time away from the industry he soon realised that the real world would never accept him and he returned to the world of performance.
Recent highlights include playing Malvolio in a Bollywood-themed Twelfth Night, Othello in Othello, Dame Sarah in a touring production of Dick Whittington, a double-bill of comedies with Not A Flan Productions, playing a nasty American newsreader and a charming but bumbling vicar. Alexander has also played Antonio and his Double in Dario Fo’s Trumpets & Raspberries, and Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors.
Alexander is thrilled to be returning to panto this year, having had a most wicked time as Abanazar in Aladdin last year at the Princess Theatre, Torquay.
Paul Vates
Tess
Chesham-based Paul (he’s Chairman of the Chiltern Film Society) was born in Leeds and trained at East 15 Acting School. Over the years, he has done an awful lot of theatre, television, voiceovers and comedy. His stage work has included everything from pantomime to Ibsen, from a huge UK national tour as Postman Pat to a number of Shakespearean clowns – such as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Feste in Twelfth Night.
He was the superhero Mathsman for two award-winning BBC TV series of Megamaths.
As a voiceover artist he has recorded over 100 books for Calibre and Listening Books, specialising in comic and children’s literature.
Paul is a founding member of The E-Team and, whilst performing with them, was awarded the European Festival of Street Entertainers’ Award. Comedy and clowning have taken him around the world, seeing him appear in loads of crazy television commercials, as well as running workshops and performing at international festivals and events.
Skinwork (no, it’s not rude – just dressing up in costume) has allowed Paul to spend a season leading the England Football Teams onto the pitch before each game, appearing at dozens of film premières and scaring innocent bystanders as a range of Doctor Who characters – his favourite being a Cyberman. Plus many more…
As a playwright, his last work – the full-length script Voltemand and Cornelius are Joyfully Returned – won the prestigious People’s Play Award at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle. He is currently working on a new project (which is all hush-hush at the moment!).
He is over-the-moon to appear in Cinderella at The Elgiva and is incredibly grateful to New Pantomime Productions for the exciting opportunity.
Callum Stephenson
Dandini
Callum was born and bred in Barnstaple, North Devon; he now resides in London in hope of pursuing his Acting career.
Callum initially trained at East 15 Acting School and has since graduated from Emil Dale Academy with a Musical Theatre Degree.
Credits whilst training include: Eddie O’Grady in Made in Dagenham and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar.
This is Callum’s Professional Debut, and he is thrilled to be entertaining you all this Christmas!
Molly Mae
Dance Captain
Molly Mae first stepped on stage at the Princess Theatre in Torquay at the tender age of 3 years old. Dressed up as Cinderella, she sang Twinkle, Twinkle under the spotlight with Buttons. This was the start of her love of theatre and especially pantomime!
Molly Mae has appeared in TOPS amateur dramatics production of Cats and almost made it to the stage in Chicago before the pandemic shut everything down the day before dress rehearsal.
Last year, Molly Mae played So Shi in Aladdin and also stepped in at the last minute to cover as the Genie of the Lamp!
Molly Mae has trained in Devon since she was two years old and is currently in her second year studying for a Musical Theatre degree at Wilkes Academy in Swindon.
Molly Mae has performed as both a junior and senior dancer over the past 9 years for New Pantomime Productions and is excited to join the cast at The Elgiva this year as Dance Captain.
The Dancers
Red Juniors
Sofia Dudley-Gritt
Archie Dale
Olivia Booth
Maiya Doyle
Bella Mellett
Betsy McMurray
Erin Butler
Yellow Juniors
Jasmine Lee
Finn Ventress
Phoebe Armstrong
Amy Cloonan
Isabella Gaughan
Catherine Pinch
Blue Juniors
Chloe Flynn
Charlotte Walker
Millie Howlett
Elsie Copping
Olivia Knight
Amelie Hardy
Red Seniors
Naomi Gillett
Elizabeth McGetrick
Tilly Adams
Yellow Seniors
Elsie Sprake
Sophie Roscoe
Kiki Alessi
Belle Gardner
Blue Seniors
Anna Whibley
Olivia Cannon
Isla King
Elana Jay
