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Lisa George: From Coronation Street to the Grand Opera House pantomime with the wave of the Fairy Godmother’s wand

CORONATION Street soap actress Lisa George is the first star to be announced for this winter’s Grand Opera House pantomime in York.

From December 6 to January 4 2025, she will swap Weatherfield for the Fairy Godmother’s glittering wings and wand to “cast enchantment over audiences in this spellbinding tale of love, laughter and letting your sparkle shine as Christmas, dreams really do come true”.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be appearing as Fairy Godmother at the Grand Opera House, York,” says Lisa. “Panto is such a special time of year, and I can’t wait to see families and friends come together to share in the magic over the festive season.”

Known to millions as Corrie’s Beth Sutherland, Lisa is a powerhouse performer with serious theatre chops too. A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff, she has toured nationally in musicals, tribute shows and pantomimes, showcased her vocals on All Star Musicals and skated on Dancing On Ice, finishing fifth in 2020 when partnering Tom Naylor.

A true all-rounder, Lisa is a gifted vocalist and seasoned live performer, who has toured the UK with musical tributes and soul and swing bands, even supporting rock’n’roll legends Little Richard and Chuck Berry.

Under the moniker Lisa George And The Pedalos, she released the rockabilly album The Devil Said Shake, showcasing her powerhouse vocals and retro flair. Her deep love for live performance has seen her take on everything from musical comedy and straight drama to radio plays and pantomimes, bringing heart, humour and authenticity to every role she has played.

Lisa George: First star name to be confirmed for Cinderella at the Grand Opera House, York

From soul bands to Shakespeare, she has done it all, and now Lisa is ready to light up the Grand Opera House in a UK Productions show scripted by Jon Monie, winner of Best Script at the Great British Pantomime Awards. Here comes comedy, festive cheer, dazzling costumes and miniature ponies.

UK Productions producer Martin Dodd says: “We are thrilled to welcome Lisa George to the cast of Cinderella in York. Lisa brings a huge amount of talent, warmth and star power to the stage, and we know that the audience will fall in love with her Fairy Godmother.

“We’re also delighted to return to the Grand Opera House with another spectacular musical pantomime created by an incredible team of writers, directors, designers and performers. York truly embraces the magic of our panto, and we can’t wait to share this year’s sparkling production with everyone.”

Laura McMillan, the Grand Opera House’s theatre director, says: “We can’t wait to welcome Lisa to the Grand Opera House in what will be another spectacular, magical, musical panto. The audience are in for another treat this year as we bring York the iconic panto title Cinderella, a show that will be enjoyed by the whole family. This is the most fun you can have with one pumpkin, two ponies and a whole lot of fairy dust!”

Watch this space for news of further casting for UK Productions’ fourth pantomime at the Grand Opera House.

Cinderella, Grand Opera House, York, December 6 to January 4 2026. For tickets, go to: atgtickets.com/york

*Invitation to the ball: Grand Opera House announces Cinderella for next winter*

TICKETS will go on sale at noon on Friday for next year’s Grand Opera House pantomime in York. The Cumberland Street theatre will present Cinderella from December 6 2025 to January 4 2026 in its fourth collaboration with UK Productions.

As with this winter’s panto, Beauty And The Beast, the show will feature a script by Jon Monie, winner of Best Script at the 2019 Great British Pantomime Awards.

Promising side-splitting comedy, lavish settings and adorable miniature ponies, Cinderella will be “more fun than you can shake a pumpkin at”. Star casting is to be announced but “expect stars from the West End and screen”.

Laura McMillan, the Grand Opera House theatre director, says: “As we open the spectacular Beauty And The Beast, we’re delighted that UK Productions will be returning next year with the most beloved of pantomimes of all time, Cinderella. I’m sure adults and children alike will be spellbound by this magical new show.”

UK Productions producer Martin Dodd says: “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without pantomime, and pantomime wouldn’t be pantomime without Cinderella. We are delighted to be presenting this fabulous story at York’s beautiful Grand Opera House, building on the success of this year’s musical pantomime, Beauty And The Beast.”

To take advantage of early bird ticket savings, book by Saturday, February 1 2025 to save £8 per ticket on select performances and seats.

Beauty And The Beast will run until January 5 2025 with a West End cast featuring CBBC’s BAFTA award-winning Dani Harmer, from Tracy Beaker and Strictly Come Dancing, as Fairy Bon Bon; dame Leon Craig, from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, as Polly La Plonk, Jennifer Caldwell, from SIX The Musical, as Belle, and Samuel Wyn-Morris, from Les Misérables, as The Prince. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

*York Theatre Royal’s promotional poster for dame Robin Simpson’s return in Sleeping Beauty in 2025*

ROBIN Simpson will return for his sixth season as the dame in York Theatre Royal’s pantomime for 2025-26, Sleeping Beauty, billed as “an enchanting tale of adventure, fun and spellbinding magic for the whole family”.

Co-produced with regular partners Evolution Productions, the show will run from December 2 2025 to January 4 2026, with “stunning costumes, gorgeous sets, dazzling special effects and all the spectacular magic of a York Theatre Royal pantomime”.

The show will be written by Evolution producer Paul Hendy and directed by Theatre Royal creative director Juliet Forster, the team behind Aladdin this winter, Jack And The Beanstalk in 2023, All New Adventures Of Peter Pan in 2022, Cinderella in 2021 and the community-touring Travelling Pantomime in Covid-shadowed 2020.

Forster says: “We’ve been delighted to see so many people returning year after year to enjoy the magic of a York Theatre Royal pantomime. We are so proud of the quality of the pantos we make and can’t wait to continue our panto adventures with Sleeping Beauty. It’s so brilliant to have Robin on board again too to bring the hilarity and fun as our dame!”

Hendy says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the fabulous team at York Theatre Royal again for our spectacular production of Sleeping Beauty. We are delighted Robin will be returning as our wonderful dame, and we can’t wait to share with you more exciting casting news in the New Year!”

Simpson enthuses: “I am overjoyed to be playing the dame in next year’s Sleeping Beauty. I love the York audiences and it’s such a special place to perform every year at Christmas time. I’m looking forward to all the high jinks the dame will get up to in Sleeping Beauty!”

Tickets are on sale on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk. Early birds who book before the end of March 2025 can benefit from a price freeze on ticket prices, with options ranging from £15 to £43.50.

Family ticket discounts can be booked for £90 (for three including at least one child) and £120 (for four including at least one child.) Schools discounts are available when booking via the St Leonard’s Place box office.

YTR Members receive an extra ten per cent off up to four tickets. For details of how to join YTR Membership, visit yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or contact the box office.

Tag: Jon Monie

Coronation Street soap star Lisa George to sprinkle fairy magic over Cinderella pantomime at Grand Opera House

What will be next year’s pantomimes at Grand Opera House & York Theatre Royal?