A few days ahead of the opening night of our spring pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, we caught up with the nine junior performers from the show who are without exception most excited to be taking part in the production.
The juniors will be taking to the stage in three separate groups, The Runner Beans - Savannah, aged 12; Tait, 13 years and Leila, aged nine. The Peas - Polly, nine; Pheobe, eight and Lucy, the youngest performer at just six years. The Carrots - Ava, nine; Summer, eight and probably the cheekiest Eddie, who last week turned eight.
Junior performers from our spring pantomime Beauty and the Beast having fun during rehearsals at the Players Theatre, Lowestoft.
The Runner Beans will be on stage for every show. Due to their young ages The Peas and The Carrots will perform alternate shows.
All from Lowestoft and the surrounding area they are a super-talented and a rather lively bunch. Despite their lack of years many are already experienced performers having been on stage previously such as Tait who played Jeremy Potts in our production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2019. Others such as Lucy have been dancing for just two years.
“I really wanted to be in Beauty and the Beast to be on stage with my Aunty and Uncle Emma and Simon (Warren). They are in the pantomime” said six-year-old Lucy. “I’ve watched them before and I wanted to do it too.”
Summer told us that it takes her just five minutes to change costumes which is good news as the juniors will have six different costume changes during the show.
When asked which is their favourite costume, they all responded in unison “rats”, although dancing and singing on stage wearing pyjamas was a very close second.
The musical number of choice for the juniors is Perfection. It’s an upbeat fun number which they will perform on stage with the pantomime’s simpleton Russel Sprout, played by Lewis Caplin.
All nine are very proud to be in the pantomime and are particularly excited that their friends and families will be coming to watch. Proudest of all is Eddie who exclaimed “Even my teacher has bought a ticket and is coming to watch!”
Not knowing each other previously all agreed that through rehearsals they had become the best of friends and will definitely keep in touch after the pantomime run has finished. Not Eddie though, he is yet to make up his mind!
Beauty and the Beast will be performed at the Players Theatre, Battery Green Road, Lowestoft from 20th to 29th May. Tickets are available by visiting www.playersrheatre.info or by contacting the Box Office on 01502 770020. Although we have been performing pantomimes for 53 years it will be the first to be performed at our own Theatre.
The Runner Beans featuring Tait who played Jeremy Potts in our production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2019.
The Peas with Lucy on the right, the youngest member of the cast at just six years old.
The Carrots with Eddie who is yet to make up his mind whether he wishes to remain the best of friends with other junior Beauty and the Beast cast members after the pantomime run has finished!
All photograph credits Emma Cullen Photography.
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