" Once again Colin Wakefield and Kate Edgar have taken a traditional story and brought it up to the minute, with a time-travelling fairy to account for the 100-year sleep."

(WESTERN GAZETTE)

CAST
    (5F, 5M or 7F, 5M + 4 children + Chorus)
 

CHORUS of children and/or young adults as PALACE CHILDREN, ATTENDANTS, SERVANTS and BRAMBLE BOGWOPPITS, and specifically:

 

GRL ONE:  BRIAR ROSE aged 7 (non-speaking)

GIRL TWO:  BRIAR ROSE aged 12 (non-speaking)

BOY ONE:  HARRY aged 7 (speaking)

BOY TWO:  HARRY aged 14 (non-speaking)

CASTING NOTE: This pantomime was written for a cast of ten to twelve principals, at least four children (for a growing up/Time sequence in dumbshow), and a small chorus, but will also suit a larger company. Most of the principals doubled in The Opening Chorus (as servants and flunkeys). With a larger company, a separate chorus, of whatever size, can be used for the Opening, as well as for fleshing out a number of other scenes (e.g. the Arrival/landing of the Time-o-Bile, the Christening, the Spinning Wheel Destruction, the Celebration, the Chase, the Falling Asleep and the Awakening, and the Finale). Cedric as a boy (aged 12 to 14 at the beginning of the play) should be played by the adult actor. Patti and Grace are cameo roles which can be doubled by the actors playing Nuts and Briar Rose.

Two FRONTCLOTHS  (One would suffice) :

THE CASTLE

THE BRAMBLES

  

One GAUZE CLOTH (Optional)

  

Four MAIN SETTINGS:

THE ROYAL HALL

NANNY FANNY ANNIE'S KITCHEN

HEDGED GARDEN

THE OVERGROWN TOWER (including Transformation)

The designs and staging can be as lavish or as simple as resources allow.

Thirteen Numbers. The original songs and music are scored for two keyboards and percussion, but can be tailored to suit resources.

Act One:

CASTLE (interior)

CASTLE GARDENS

TOWER (interior)

Act Two:

OVERGROWN TOWER

PALACE KITCHEN

PALACE GARDEN

The designs and staging can be as lavish or as simple as resources allow. This is not a pantomime, so there are no transformations, grand set pieces or extravagant costume changes. 

Twelve Numbers. The first production was cast with seven actor/musicians, with no separate band or MD. But the music has also been scored for two keyboards, so the show can be performed by non-instrumentalists – ie. as a more conventional musical.