Two of the most popular and applauded stars of last year’s Cinderella are returning to York Theatre Royal for this year’s pantomime All New Adventures of Peter Pan.
Robin Simpson and Paul Hawkyard won much praise as the Ugly Sisters double act and were nominated as Best Uglies in the Great British Pantomime Awards.
This time Robin will play Mrs Smee while Paul is the villainous Captain Hook.
Paul said: “Robin and I kept getting mobbed last year in York so we’ve had to change our identity this year. Manky and Mardy are back in the wardrobe, and the hook is being sharpened and polished as we speak. I’m so looking forward to playing one of the most famous and evil villains ever – the tall, dark and incredibly handsome Captain Hook, the original pirate king.”
Robin said: “I’m delighted to be returning to York Theatre Royal for my third pantomime there. I’m also very excited to be back on stage with Paul Hawkyard. He’s a very funny guy and I’m so glad that my ‘sister’ from last year is able to return. Can’t wait.”
Robin played the Dame in The Travelling Pantomime, which York Theatre Royal toured to community venues in 2020, before becoming one of the Uglies in Cinderella.
Robin and Paul previously worked together in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth for Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York.
Most recently Robin has filled in for cast absences in Northern Broadsides tour of As You Like It. He previously toured the country with the same company as Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing. Most recently Paul has been filming the new series of Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small in Yorkshire.
As already announced, also returning this year is Faye Campbell, who also starred in The Travelling Pantomime tour as The Hero and Dick Whittington, then played Cinderella in 2021. She will play in Elizabeth Darling in All New Adventures of Peter Pan.
She joins CBeebies’ favourite Maddie Moate who will be flying into the Theatre Royal to play mischievous fairy Tinkerbell in the family-friendly show which once again is being produced in partnership with Evolution Productions.
York Theatre Royal Creative Director Juliet Forster, who is directing All New Adventures of Peter Pan, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Robin, Paul and Faye for this year’s pantomime. They were all hugely popular with our audiences in Cinderella last year and we can’t wait for them to return to our stage in these fabulous new roles. ”
Further casting will be announced in coming months.
All New Adventures of Peter Pan: 2 December to 2 January.
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