West End stars arrive at Pleasure Beach as pantomime rehearsals begin

Three West End actors have arrived at Pleasure Beach Resort’s theatre ahead of the launch of its Christmas pantomime, Cinderella.

Ian Oswald, Chris O’Mara and James Colebrook arrived last week at the resort, and have already begun rehearsing with the rest of the cast and crew.

Returning for a second year of panto, Ian Oswald will embody Abriel, the Spirit of Virtue, who will be a voice of wisdom and magic, helping guide Cinderella on her journey to true love.

Last year, he performed alongside stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, filming scenes for Wicked, and also performed in Burlesque: The Musical at Manchester’s Opera House.

Ian’s joined by James Colebrook, an actor, model, personal trainer, and podcast co-host known for his role in stage productions and his relationship with TV presenter, Dr. Ranj Singh. He graduated from Laine Theatre Arts and has appeared in shows like Game Night and Jock Night, as well as in the short film Master Class.

James will be taking on the role of Scarlett, one of the Ugly Step Sisters.

Chris O’Mara joins Cinderella The Pantomime straight from a stint in Cabaret The Musical, at the KitKat Club in London. Alongside James, he’ll be donning dresses too as he transforms into Celeste, the other Ugly Step Sister.

Amanda Thompson OBE, executive producer of Cinderella The Pantomime, and CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “It’s often thought that there’s nothing to do at Pleasure Beach in the colder months, but we’re actually still thrilling guests right up until Christmas Eve.

“Cinderella is one of the most magical stories ever told, and we’re excited to bring it to life this season. Our team has poured heart, creativity, and humour into this production, and we can’t wait for families and friends to experience it.”

Ian, James and Chris will join the long-returning cast of panto pros, including Emmerdale’s Kelsey-Beth Crossley, and Amazon Prime’s Goodwin Island star Ashley Luke Llyod.

Cinderella at Pleasure Beach Resort runs from the November 22 to December 23, and has a mixture of matinee, evening, relaxed and BSL signed performances.