Sleeping Beauty at Perth Theatre: Barrie Hunter leads full panto cast

Barrie Hunter writes, directs and stars as Dame Livvie McSkivvie in Sleeping Beauty at Perth Theatre, from 27 November to 31 December 2026. Meet the full cast.

Bridget

Regional Theatre Correspondent, British Theatre

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Perth Theatre has revealed the full cast for Sleeping Beauty, its pantomime for Christmas 2026. The show runs in the Main House from Friday 27 November to Thursday 31 December 2026, with an opening night performance on 28 November at 7pm.

A staple of the Perth panto season, Barrie Hunter writes and directs the production and leads the cast as Dame Livvie McSkivvie.

What is the story?

There is a party up at The Big Hoose. Laird Sir Coupar Angus and his wife Annie have just welcomed a bonny baby girl, Aurora, and everyone is celebrating. Well, nearly everyone. Annie's banished sister, Malania The Mirthless, has a face like thunder and a very nasty curse up her sleeve.

If Aurora pricks her finger on a spinning wheel before her 21st birthday, she will fall into a Deep Sleep. So the wee princess is whisked away to The Wee Hoose, disguised as "Rory" and raised by Dame Livvie McSkivvie and her son Murray, a child prodigy chef with a serious talent for pies. Saving the day falls to a household of lovable chaos, a local psychic and, the theatre promises, the loudest audience in Scotland.

Who is in the cast?

Hunter is joined by Jessica Donnelly, whose credits include Gallus in Weegieland, as Aurora Angus. Lauren Ellis Steele, seen in The High Life: Still Living It!, plays the wicked Malania the Mirthless.

Fiona Wood, whose credits include The Great Gatsby, plays Lady Annie Angus, and Greg Powrie, seen in Frankenstein, plays Sir Coupar Angus.

Returning to Perth, panto favourite Ewan Somers, who appeared in The Snow Queen, plays Murray McSkivvie. Martin Murphy, whose credits include Aladdie, plays Hamish and joins the ensemble, while Jen Cassidy makes her panto debut as the psychic Claire and is also part of the ensemble.

Brooke Robertson, who has appeared in Rent, completes the company as off stage swing and dance captain.

Who is on the creative team?

The production reunites Perthshire audiences with the creative team behind the theatre's The Snow Queen, which won Outstanding Pantomime at the 2025 Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

Alongside Hunter as writer and director, the team includes musical director Alan Penman, associate director and choreographer Chris Stuart Wilson, lighting designer Wayne Dowdeswell and set and costume designer Becky Minto.

What can families expect?

The theatre describes the show as having everything people love about a proper family panto: dazzling sets, sparkling costumes, toe tapping songs, slapstick that goes spectacularly wrong, and enough groan worthy gags to keep the whole family giggling all the way to the finale.

Audiences are encouraged to bring their best boos, their biggest cheers and their loudest "Oh no it isn't!", because Malania cannot be beaten without them. In the theatre's own words, it is warm, it is daft and it is gloriously local, made right in Perth.