Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort have revealed further casting for Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at The Globe, promising it will be ‘the most glamorous and spectacular pantomime’ in 2024.
West End star Ian Oswald, who also appears in the highly-anticipated Wicked film, which opens in the UK on 22 November, will join TV personality Charlotte Dawson and Emmerdale actress Kelsey-Beth Crossley in the Pleasure Beach Resort’s Christmas pantomime, playing the evil Abanazar, direct from his run in Burlesque: The Musical at Manchester’s Opera House.
Ian, who earlier this year performed alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo filming scenes for Wicked, says, “I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the most talented performers on both stage and screen, and I’ve had a fantastic time in Burlesque. I’ll be going straight into rehearsals for Aladdin because there’s no rest for the wicked… quite literally, as I’m playing an evil sorcerer.”
On screen, Ian also appeared in The Pirates of the Caribbean and The Crown, before landing the unusual role of body double to King Triton, played by Javier Bardem, in Disney’s 2023 live-action remake of the The Little Mermaid. He’s no stranger to Aladdin either, although The Globe’s is very different to the last one he did. He adds, “I’ve performed in Disney’s Aladdin in the West End but this version is like nothing audiences have ever seen before. I’m thrilled to be helping bring it to life.”
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort and executive producer of Aladdin, says, “Ian’s incredible talent and energy bring yet another unique layer to our show, and audiences are going to love every moment he’s on stage. This year’s pantomime promises to be our most spectacular and enchanting yet, full of laughter, glamour, and all the magic that makes pantomime at Pleasure Beach so very special.”
Last year, Pleasure Beach Resort’s 2023 Pantomime, Beauty & the Beast, received rave reviews and a nomination for Best Ensemble in the UK Pantomime Awards. Aladdin is being produced by Stageworks Worldwide Productions and directed by West End performer Alexa Robinson.
The show opens on November 23 and runs on selected dates until 24 December, with a special finale performance on Christmas Eve. It also features talented local performers Sarah Ward and Ashley Luke Lloyd. Tickets start from £10 per person and can be booked here.
Please note, the performance on 1 December features a sign language interpreter for those people who use sign language. The 6 December performance is a ‘relaxed performance’ featuring adjustments to sound, lighting, and audience expectations, adapted to be accessible to a wide range of audiences.
Coming from outside Blackpool for the panto? Why not stay and see? Panto packages are available at both Pleasure Beach Resort hotels, The Big Blue Hotel and The Boulevard. Theatre packages include bed and breakfast and a pantomime ticket per person. You can find details and book The Big Blue Hotel Pantomime Package here, while details and booking for the Boulevard Hotel Pantomime Package can be found here.
