![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_The-cast-of-the-Sleeping-Beauty-pantomime-prepare-for-their-December-show-at-the-Floral-Pavilion-i.webp\")
The cast of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime prepare for their December show at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nOne person said: “We put the work in for months and months, it really has been a whole team effort.\u201dThe cast of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime prepare for their December show at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
In a little over a month one of Merseyside\u2019s largest theatres will be putting on its biggest show.<\/a> As the cast of the Floral Pavilion\u2019s Sleeping Beauty prepare to entertain audiences from December 6, the ECHO<\/a> was given a look behind the scenes.<\/p>\n In the coming weeks, the New Brighton<\/a> theatre on the Wirral<\/a> is getting ready to go all out for this year\u2019s pantomime, with tickets on sale from \u00a315. Inside the building, parts of the theatre will be transformed into a castle and a giant spinning wheel will also take up its position for panto season.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s pantomime stars Loose Women, pop, and TV star K\u00e9ll\u00e9 Bryan,<\/a> as well as Olivier Award winner Cleo Demetriou, who is playing Princess Rose. Next year, the ECHO <\/a>can also reveal Aladdin will be returning to the Floral after many years.<\/p>\n K\u00e9ll\u00e9, who will be performing on a Merseyside stage for the first time, said: \u201cThe show has got a fantastic cast, great songs people will know, and some really good crowd pleasers. I have lived in Liverpool for seven years so for me this is home. It\u2019s so lovely to be at home at Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n Playing Fairy Snowfall, K\u00e9ll\u00e9 said: \u201cShe\u2019s definitely got some sass. She\u2019s the element of the show that makes sure we get a happily ever after, which is essential in the panto.\u201d<\/p>\n The pantomime, a collaboration with UK Productions, is the longest-running show the Floral puts on, bringing in about 20% of its business. In the past, this used to be as high as 50% but with 370 performances this year and more big shows in the next, the Floral is now bringing in much more income all year round.<\/p>\n Julia Redhead, marketing and sales manager, said the pantomime was incredibly important, telling the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cIt\u2019s something that the whole family can enjoy, people of any age from three to 103. We know it\u2019s something audiences look forward to and expect from here.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom now on we really hit the ground running to be ready for Christmas. We put the work in for months and months; it really has been a whole team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n Between the Floral and UK Productions, around 100 staff are needed to keep the show running, supported by about 50 volunteers who put in thousands of hours, something the theatre said they could not do without. Around 30,000 people are expected to come through the doors over the course of five weeks, with around 10,000 ice creams sold.<\/p>\n People might not realise it but as soon as the performances start at the beginning of December, the planning for the next year\u2019s show begins. People are asked for their thoughts on the show, what they liked and did not like, though last year\u2019s was so popular it got 4.9 out of 5.<\/p>\n In recent years, the Floral has made headlines <\/a>due to uncertainty around its future, as it is owned and run by Wirral Council<\/a>. However, staff said it was an exciting time looking ahead, with the theatre getting real traction with audiences<\/a> who are expecting bigger shows and turning to the Floral to get that, including from Liverpool and other parts of Merseyside.<\/p>\n![\"K\u00e9ll\u00e9](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761433639_830_0_The-cast-of-the-Sleeping-Beauty-pantomime-prepare-for-their-December-show-at-the-Floral-Pavilion-i.webp\")
K\u00e9ll\u00e9 Bryan said she was excited to perform for audiences in just over a month(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761433641_414_0_The-cast-of-the-Sleeping-Beauty-pantomime-prepare-for-their-December-show-at-the-Floral-Pavilion-i.webp\")
The pantomime is one of the biggest productions the Floral Pavilion put on(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Theatre](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_Floral-PavillionNew-BrightonWirralPic-Andrew-Teebay.jpg\")
Theatre Manager Pauline Campbell at the Floral Pavillion(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n