Princess Theatre unveils celebrity cast for Christmas panto

Soap star and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Emma Barton is top the bill at this year's Princess Theatre panto.

Following the huge success of Jack and the Beanstalk, Jordan Productions and the Torquay seafront venue are lining up Sleeping Beauty for this year's Christmas and New Year show.

Heading this year’s star-studded cast is Emma, who will be starring as Carabosse, the Wicked Witch determined to stop any chances of a happy ending – will she succeed?

As well as being a beloved soap star on screen since 2005, Emma is an accomplished stage actress whose theatre credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago (West End) Dolly in the National Theatre’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors and Marty in Grease (West End).

Emma also won the hearts of the nation with her partnership with Anton Du Beke which saw her through to the finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.

The theatre says: "Emma is delighted to be back on stage, working with Jordan Productions again, in Sleeping Beauty. With live music, stunning sets, slick choreography, sensational costumes and special effects, Sleeping Beauty promises to be Torquay’s most spectacular Pantomime ever."

Emma is best known to television audiences for playing Honey Mitchell in BBC1’s flagship drama Eastenders.

Further TV acting credits include; You, Me & Them (Hat Trick for UKTV), Doctors (BBC1), Secret History (Channel 4), and Spooks (BBC1). 

In addition to her screen credits, Emma is also an accomplished stage actress, with theatre credits including: Dolly in the National Theatre’s production of One Man Two Guvnors (UK Tour), Vera in Doctor in the House (UK Tour), Roxie Hart in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre, West End & UK Tour), Eileen in Over The Moon (Old Vic), Peggy in The Secret Garden (RSC & Aldwych Theatre) and Marty in Grease (Victoria Palace Theatre, West End). 

Film credits include Catherine in Who Needs Enemies? (Red Guerrilla Films) and her radio & recording credits include BBC Radio’s Friday Night is Music Night: Tribute to Lionel Bart. 

Emma was also recently asked back to present her second series of The Petcast podcast for animal charity Blue Cross. 

She is a proud patron of Down’s Syndrome Association and Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, an Ambassador for Dementia UK and ran the London Marathon as one of Dame Barbara Windsor’s ‘Revolutionaries’, in aid of Dementia Revolution

The panto runs from December 2 to January 3.