Shaun Will be appearing in pantomime as Prince Robin in Sleeping Beauty at the Oakengates Theatre in Telford from Thursday the 16th of December 2004 to Sunday the 9th January 2005
Here are some photos from the Panto taken the Paul Holman Associates Website
i will also add a direct link to them
Shropshire Star Article 1
Panto's stars are shining in town
Stars from this year's pantomime Sleeping Beauty, being staged at Oakengates Theatre, have been stepping out in Telford.
Popular panto favourite Peter Simon and former Big Brother housemate Alison Hammond are the two celebrity names fronting this year's panto spectacular from December 16 to January 9.
The production is among a host of dramas, concerts and shows in the Oakengates Theatre autumn schedule.
Yesterday two stars were at Telford's Town Park with other cast members for the launch of the season.
Alison, a contestant in Big Brother 3, has done two previous pantos, and Peter, a one-time children's TV favourite, appeared in Oakengates last year in Snow White.
Tickets for the panto are available priced £5 from the theatre box office on (01952) 619020
Shropshire Star Article 2
Beauty set to wake again
LAVINIA GRAHAM meets the scriptwriter who is seeking to put a new spin on a Shropshire festive pantomime
She may have slept for 100 years, but playwright Ian Billings barely has time for 40 winks as he puts the finishing touches to this year's Telford pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
He is also writing a script for Snow White which will run at six theatres this Christmas, but Sleeping Beauty is the one he is enjoying the most.
"I've been involved with 52 pantos during my career, I've written Aladdin seven times over but this is the first time I've been asked to do Sleeping Beauty," explains Ian.
"As great an adventure story as Aladdin is, there are only so many jokes you can come up with about Chinese takeaways, rickshaws and launderettes," laughs Ian.
"Sleeping Beauty is quite an unusual one really. Like Robinson Crusoe and Mother Goose it doesn't come up often, which for me as a writer offers so many directions to take it."
And with such lively characters as Big Brother's Alison Hammond and Peter Simon from Bid Up TV set to star in this year's production, it won't be laughs but seats that are in short supply at Oakengates Theatre this Christmas.
Somewhat surprisingly, Ian says he has never considered moving into conventional play writing, even though ironically, he has a Masters degree in play-writing hanging on the wall.
"I just love working within this wonderful strain of British comedy. It's a sort of cocktail of Carry-On humour and knockabout slapstick, which centres on self-parody, you just don't get that in any other country."
And while the well-known storylines may already be a done deal, Ian says that in some ways that makes it more challenging. "There are only so many ways you can rub a lamp," he jokes.
"Also pantomime is one of the few shows where the audience is a character in the show, that adds a whole other dimension to the task."
Perpetually living and breathing Christmas could drive a man mad, which is why Ian has a couple of other strings to his bow, the strongest of which is Stagecoach Theatre School in Telford.
Part of the national performing arts network, which has launched the careers of many child stars, including Charlotte Church, Jamie Bell and Emma Watson of the Harry Potter films, Ian first got involved with the theatre school when he opened a Wolverhampton branch in the early 90s.
He has since opened another Stagecoach school at the Hayward Centre, in Wellington, where he spends every Saturday working with kids on their singing, dancing and acting.
"We see two types of kids at the school. Those who want to perform professionally, for whom we have access to a huge agency base, then there are those who simply enjoy the camaraderie of three-hours entertainment on a Saturday," says Ian.
As well as the eight to 16 year olds the school now accepts four to seven year olds for a shorter session in the mornings.
"For a lot of the parents it is the first time they have left their children, but we provide excellent child care and the centre offers a very safe, lockable environment," says Ian.
"We do a lot of communication, listening and sharing exercises, which are good for the child's social skills, its a great way for them to learn how to learn in preparation for going to school."
But a man cannot live on panto and teaching alone, which is why Ian invented Sam Hawkins - a washed-up pirate turned private detective whose adventures make reading fun for nine to 11 year olds.
And Ian doesn't stop at children's fiction. With his TV hat on, the Midlands man was proud to be one of the original writers behind the phenomenally successful Teletubbies series, and continues to supply scripts for BBC's Chucklevision.
"I wrote a couple of episodes back in 1999 and they're still paying. From time to time I get royalties from re-runs appearing in countries like Iceland."
Keeping his finger on the pulse of the kids' world is clearly the key to Ian's success, which also sees him taking theatre workshops into Midlands schools with his business partner Stephanie and their Theatre Works business.
"I am in the very lucky position where I get to spend most of my days laughing, whether it's working with kids or laughing at my own jokes.
"I really do count myself lucky to be able to earn a living while having so much fun," reflects Ian . . . in one of his rare quiet moments
Shropshire Star Article 3
Classic slapstick is recipe for success
Fabulous frocks, slapstick comedy and a fairytale ending were the recipe for success in the latest theatre production in Shropshire.
Oh yes it was!
The Sleeping Beauty classic tale of good versus evil and love conquering all left the thrilled audience hungry for more after the show at Oakengates Theatre yesterday.
A star-studded celebrity cast - including Big Brother's Alison Hammond and one-time children's TV host Peter Simon - put their hearts into some fantastic performances during the second day of the production which runs at the theatre until January 9.
Alison Hammond, who plays the Lilac Fairy, added humour to the role with her Brummie accent and pregnant figure in a tutu.
She said: "This is my first year at Telford and I'm loving it! .
"This is a really exciting time for me as I'm expecting my first child in January so that will be the best Christmas present! "
Lucyelle Cliffe, who plays Carabosse the wicked witch, was brilliant in her role.
But Peter Simon got the biggest applause for his cheeky role as Muddles.
Review from The Stage Website
Sleeping Beauty
The seven principals, juveniles and dancers worked hard to produce a family panto with a storyline that seemed stretched to the limit. When Prince Robin (Shaun Dalton) kissed the beautiful Princess Aurora (Lauren Adams) to awaken her after her 100 year sleep it was only five minutes into the second half.
The rest of the performance was filled with panto standards such as the slapstick routine, the ghost gag, a songbook, a well-worked car chase, a juvenile pop number but no story until the finale wedding scene. It seemed to lack punch and substance.
All the cast excelled, Alison Hammond as the Lilac Fairy was superb. Radiant, confident and eight months pregnant she lit up the stage with her performance, as did the evil witch Carabosse, Lucyelle Cliffe, who displayed a realistic menace and crackling laugh to frighten the youngsters.
Russell Lucas as King Rupert, who also directed the panto, was well supported by Dave Short as Nurse Tilly Lint who after a quiet start with some poor gags won the audience over with his splendid costumes and repartee with the excellent star of the show - Peter Simon as Muddles.
With Brian Eades’ superb lighting, good dancing, wonderful costumes and set it was a panto to be enjoyed for its cast’s performance, not for the storyline.
Alan Bowler
There are three articles about the pantomime from the Shropshire Star Newspaper as well as a review of the show from the stage website & also the Oakengates Theatre Website Here
Shropshire Star Newspaper Article
Shropshire Star Newspaper Article
Shropshire Star Newspaper Article
Pantomime Review
The Paul Holman Associates Website
The Oakengates Theatre Website
may i return to the begining
