Buxton Opera House panto stars chat about all things Sleeping Beauty

The leaves may just be starting to turn golden but panto season is almost upon us and between Friday December, 4 and Saturday January 2, 2026 there will be laughter, festive magic, and fun for the whole family.

We chatted with James Holmes who is back for his 11th year and playing everyone’s favourite Dame, Georgia Gallagher who will be playing the princess and Catherine Pugh who will be the villain you all love to hate.

James said: “It’s always lovely to be asked back.

“You can never be sure but it is a real privilege as an actor to return to a place and one that now feels like a home away from home.”

Georgia: “I’m excited for the costumes. We haven't seen everything yet that will happen during rehearsals.

“We get a couple of weeks before the show starts to really crack on and learn everything.”

Catherine said: “I didn’t think I would like playing the villain but you engage with the audience in such a different way and you know it’s not you it’s the costume and the character you are portraying.”

Completing the main panto cast will be Ross Clifton who has starred in five Buxton Opera House performances and Jamie Davis-Fletcher who is making his professional debut after leading the 2023 community production of Little Shop of Horrors.

This year follows the story of Sleeping Beauty and when the princess falls under a wicked curse and into a 100-year slumber, her happily-ever-after seems lost forever.

But with the help of a handsome Prince, a good fairy, and plenty of panto mischief, can true love's kiss save the day?

However the script is not set in stone as James explained: “Becoming the dame is quite fun, I get the script and then start re-writing it to add in more jokes and time to chat to the audience which again is an honour to have my opinion valued and trusted so much.”

Speaking about working at Christmas time Georgia said: “Buxton is a beautiful place and the Opera House is gorgeous - who wouldn’t want to perform here?

“And the audience are brilliant which makes everything so much easier when you have a fab audience.

The cast get Christmas Day off and Georgia says her family are coming to Buxton to spend the festive period with her.

Catherine said that out of the three ladies of panto James as the dame took the longest to get ready.

“Everyone backstage and in front of house, work so hard to make panto season happen and it really is wonderful when it all comes together.”

James who is now a stalwart of Buxton pantomime said: “It’s an intense run and you are working on two shows a day so it’s very fast paced but it’s a well oiled machine and everything works - and when it doesn’t the audience don’t know this wasn’t part of the performance and it makes everything funnier.

“I think making people laugh and sharing a moment together really is special.”

“What can I say about this show apart from it’s a must watch and this year we even have a dragon on stage with us which should be fun.”

Written and directed by Paul Kerryson and brought to life by the team behind Aladdin (2025), Jack and the Beanstalk (2024), and Cinderella (2023) this year’s panto is sure to be a treat.

Paul added: “There is something truly magical about bringing a cast together where all our principal performers share a history with our stage.

Joined by the brilliant creative team behind our recent in-house pantomimes, and backed by a live band, this incredible team is set to deliver a whole heap of panto magic this festive season.”

Sleeping Beauty is supported by Taylor Emmet Solicitors and sponsored by The Palace Hotel, Buxton.

Tickets are on sale now: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/events/sleeping-beauty-2026.