Theatre heralds local talent after panto run

Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre is celebrating the success of its pantomime season which it says has championed local talent on and off the stage.

Sleeping Beauty, which featured two Wolverhampton-born actors in principal roles - Zak Douglas and Solomon Davy - concluded its run on Sunday.

Twenty-four local children were cast for performances which gave them invaluable experience, the theatre said.

The venue, it added, had switched to producing its own, in-house pantomimes in recent years, which "allowed for local talent to shine in every element". Advance ticket sales for next season's Treasure Island have already topped 15,500.

During the run of Sleeping Beauty which used more than 100kg of glitter, Douglas swapped front of house duties at the theatre to appear on stage as Gerald the Herald.

He has appeared in Channel 5 crime drama The Good Ship Murder and ITV comedy series G'WED and proved to be "a hugely popular edition" to the panto cast line up, the theatre said.

West End performer Davy, who first performed at the theatre through a local dance school at the age of two, was also embraced as Prince Stephen in the panto.

Some of the children in the show were part of the Grand Theatre and Arena Theatre's Youth Theatre, and Eden Garrattley was assistant stage manager for the panto after taking part in the Solihull College & University Centre Creative Venue Technician Bootcamp earlier this year.

"Stage management was what first sparked my passion to start working in the theatre industry, but I haven't had many chances to gain hands-on experience in this area until now," she said.

"I'm really grateful to The Grand for trusting me with this role and giving me the chance to take this next step in my career."

Lizzie Salisbury worked as another assistant stage manager after previously working front-of-house at the theatre, and Matt Elson was hired as a company manager after working as a performer and agent.

The theatre said it continued its travel fund scheme which provided schools in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley with free coach travel to and from the venue, when booking to see a production.

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