Our spectacular family pantomime, Beauty and the Beast has all the ingredients for a magical trip to the theatre, with hilarious slapstick humour, plenty of audience interaction, not to mention some fabulous song and dance routines that will delight audiences of all ages.
Beauty and the Beast will be sure to make you laugh, cry and fall in love with a host of hilarious and hairy characters – get to know them before your trip to the panto.
STEVEN WREN
Fanny McKlinkie and Director
In pantomime, I get the chance to dress up as the dame. And once you’ve played the dame your life can never be the same. There the dresses, quick changes, make-up and wigs - I love making people laugh so much.
As for directing, I’ve been doing it for eight years in a row. The work is fun. - it’s like a field of clover. We won’t be happy till you go home smiling when it’s over.
So, sing along and boo and scream - the sounds we love to hear.
ROSS ALLAN
Cameron McKlinkie
Ross Allan has a BA in Acting from Queen Margaret University and is a firm favourite of the Scottish pantomime circuit, having worked at the Macrobert Theatre in Stirling, the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh and for seven seasons at Eden Court.
Theatre highlights include: winning The Stage Award for Best Ensemble at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2004 for Fierce: an Urban Myth with Grid Iron Theatre Company; being nominated at the CATS Awards for Best Show for Young People in 2009 for Rudolf with Andy Manley/Macrobert Theatre (which he co-devised) and in 2014 for The Pokey Hat with Grinagog Theatre Company.
Ross is thrilled to be back at Eden Court this year and wishes everyone a very merry Christmas!
CHRISTIE GOWANS
Belle
Christie trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating in 2013 with a Diploma in Professional Performing Arts, and, prior to this, trained at the Dance
School of Scotland on the musical theatre course for two years.
Alongside her performing work on stage and screen, she has worked as a choreographer and teacher, including choreographing the 2016 Stage Experience production of Oliver! at the Edinburgh Playhouse, and recently set up her own performing arts school - La Belle Arts.
CHRIS O’MARA
Balloch Bennochy
It isn’t often that I, the bold and beautiful Balloch Bennochy, would speak about anyone other than myself. I mean, just look at me…. No, go on, have a wee look… But, this time I’ll make an exception, because I’d like to introduce you to the second most handsome man in Inverness, Chris O’Mara.
Chris is normally based down in Dundee, where he pretends to be an actor/dancer - in fact, he spent a few years at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, where he gained his first-class BA (hons) in Dance. Whereas I, Balloch Bennochy, don’t need a piece of paper to say I’m first class. In everything!
When he’s onstage, he’s been in shows such as We Will Rock You, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Our House and, most recently, he was showing off to the people at the BBC in an episode of Doctors on BBC One - although, if it’s Doctor Love you’re looking for, look no further than me, Balloch Bennochy…
For some reason, the gorgeous people of Eden Court have welcomed Chris back to this year’s pantomime, after he stropped around the stage last year as Foosty McScunner. It’s good to see he’s pulled himself together though, and I’ve heard he’s not too shabby this year.
Book online or call the Box Office on 01463 234 234.