Swansea Grand and Pantomime producers, Imagine Theatre, announce first casting for their 2022/2023 panto season as favourites Kevin Johns and Matt Edwards are set to return in the cast of Beauty and the Beast from 14 December 2022 to 15 January 2023.
Panto fans will be delighted to hear that Kevin Johns MBE will be playing the role of Nanna Penny and this year will mark his 30th year in panto and his 24th at the Grand. Kev’s stage career has been varied including drama, comedy, musicals and of course pantomime.
Kev has recently returned from Snowdonia in North Wales after filming an episode of the very popular US TV show Documentary Now which is also to be seen on Amazon TV here in the UK. His extensive theatre credits include: Amazing Grace, Toshack or Me, Dr and the Devils, Under Milk Wood, Return Journey, The Odd Couple, Piaf, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It and Taffy Shakespeare. Kev also played Henry Roberts in the Mal Pope musical Calon Lan and appeared in the National Theatre Wales production of The Passion directed by Michael Sheen. He also appeared in the film The Gospel of Us and the BAFTA Award winning Jack to a King. Kev is also a popular compere and has introduced shows for Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra, Paul Potts, Peter Karrie and Rhydian.
Kev is delighted to return to Swansea Grand theatre for this year’s Imagine Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast and says; “I am so excited to be returning to the fantastic Swansea Grand for panto this year. The Grand is such a wonderful theatre with a great staff and the best audiences in Panto land. Beauty and the Beast is a great panto with something for all the family and a new panto for me! I’m so looking forward to working with Matt Edwards who is one of the funniest people I know. Matt is a wonderful entertainer and a great friend. See you all in panto at the Swansea Grand!”
With further star casting to be announced, Kevin will be joined on stage by Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Matt Edwards, in the role of Cyril who says: “Hello Meow. It’s Me, Matt Edwards. I’m so super excited to be coming back to Swansea, for what promises to be the most spectacular pantomime the Swansea Grand has ever seen. Come and join us for some Christmas magic.”
Beauty and the Beast will be the first partnership between Imagine Pantomimes and the Swansea Grand Theatre and this year’s pantomime is set to be pretty spectacular with a brand-new production using LED screens and animation.
Swansea Grand Theatre Manager, Grant McFarlane said, “We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome our panto favourite Kev back to the Grand along with Matt Edwards. Our annual pantomime is a huge family tradition for our audiences, and we hope to see you all there for this, our first with Imagine who will be bringing our most exciting pantomime to date as it will be our first using LED screens with animated scenes. It’s really ground-breaking whilst keeping all of the traditional elements that our audiences have come to love”
When an arrogant Prince is cursed to live as a beast, his only hope of salvation is to find love before the last petal falls from a magic rose. When pretty village girl, Beauty, comes into his life, is this the chance he has been waiting for?
Beauty and the Beast will be sure to make you laugh, cry and fall in love with a host of hilarious and hairy characters; so book your tickets now and discover if Beauty can see beyond appearances and learn to love a beast!
