FLORAL PAVILION THEATRE NEW BRIGHTON ANNOUNCES STAR CAST FOR THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME

CBBC’S JAMES MACKENZIE AND PANTO FAVOURITE SEAN JONES ARE JOINED BY

BLACKPOOL RADIO PRESENTER SCOTT GALLAGHER MAKING HIS PANTO DAME DEBUT AS ‘WIDOW TWANKEY’, ALONGSIDE 

WEST END PERFORMER JAMES-ROYDEN LYLEY, AND

SIX THE MUSICAL STAR YNA MONTARDE

5 DECEMBER 2026 – 3 JANUARY 2027

ALADDIN IMAGERY AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

CAST HEADSHOTS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

CAST CHARACTER PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

FLORAL PAVILION IMAGERY AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

The Floral Pavilion and UK Productions today announce further star cast for Aladdin, running in New Brighton from 5 December 2026 – 3 January 2027, with a press performance on Wednesday 9 December at 6.30pm. 

The cast is led by CBBC star James Mackenzie as the wicked ‘Abanazar’ and pantomime favourite Sean Jones, returning to the Floral Pavilion for his seventh year as ‘Wishee Washee’, alongside Blackpool-based performer and radio presenter Scott Gallagher, making his pantomime Dame debut as ‘Widow Twankey’, West End performer James-Royden Lyley as ‘Aladdin’, and SIX star Yna Montarde as ‘Princess Jasmine’.

James Mackenzie is best known for playing Raven in the multi-BAFTA Award-winning CBBC series Raven, which ran for 15 series and attracted audiences around the world. More recently, he has become known to a new generation as James in the CBeebies series Molly and Mack. His extensive theatre and screen credits also include the National Theatre of Scotland, River City, Still Game and Outlander. 

James Mackenzie said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the role of Abanazar in Aladdin and can’t wait to make the Floral Pavilion my home for the festive season. I hope the people of Merseyside and the Wirral are ready to boo me as I get up to all sorts of mischief with the hilarious Sean Jones! Let the challenge begin!”

Panto favourite Sean Jones returns to the Floral Pavilion for his seventh year. Best known for his award-winning performance as ‘Mickey’ in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, Jones has long been a familiar face to audiences across the region. His recent theatre credits include Sleeping Beauty at the Floral Pavilion, Picture You Dead, Macbeth at the Epstein Theatre and Wave Me Goodbye at Theatr Clwyd, with television appearances including Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and The Royal Today. 

Making his Floral Pavilion debut as ‘Widow Twankey’ is Scott Gallagher, a familiar voice to audiences across the North West as a breakfast radio presenter in Blackpool. Gallagher began performing in pantomime at the age of four and, after more than a decade entertaining families across the UK with Butlin’s, Pontins and Haven, returned to pantomime professionally. Over the past 15 years he has appeared at venues across the country, including Blackpool’s Opera House, but this Christmas marks a major first: his debut as a pantomime Dame. 

Scott Gallagher said: “Alrriiiiiight New Brighton! I am so excited to be with everyone at the Floral Pavilion this Christmas. We’re going to have an unbelievable time and I can’t wait to get started with the team and all of you.

“I’m even more excited this year as, after 14 years working across the country as a panto comic, this will be my first time venturing out and earning my Dame wings – and I couldn’t think of a better place to do it. Time to get dry cleaning that magic carpet and get set for an incredible adventure this panto season. Get your tickets now!”

Taking the title role is James-Royden Lyley, whose West End credits include 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre and 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Further credits include Mungojerrie in CATS, Eddie in Mamma Mia! in Cyprus, the international tour of Mamma Mia! and the title role in Peter Pan in Worthing. 

James-Royden Lyley said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing Aladdin and spending Christmas at the Floral Pavilion. New Brighton is such a brilliant place, and I can’t wait to share the magic, laughter and adventure of this wonderful show with local audiences and families throughout the festive season. I’m counting down the days!”

Martin Dodd continued, “We are delighted to welcome James-Royden Lyley to New Brighton as our Aladdin. He brings exactly the energy, charm and warmth we want at the heart of this magical adventure, and I’m sure audiences will quickly fall under his spell. With romance, comedy and plenty of panto magic, James is set to make this Aladdin one to remember!”

Completing the star line up as ‘Princess Jasmine’ is Yna Montarde, who graduated from The Urdang Academy in 2025 and went straight on to play Anne Boleyn in the UK and International Tour of global musical phenomenon SIX. 

Yna Montarde said: “I am extremely thrilled to be heading over to New Brighton to join the cast of Aladdin. There is nothing that truly beats the magic and joy of panto and I can’t wait to bring loads of festive spirit – and maybe a little craziness – to the Floral Pavilion.”

Martin Dodd added: “We are so excited to announce that star of SIX the Musical, Yna Montarde, will be playing the feisty Princess Jasmine in Aladdin this Christmas at the Floral Pavilion. Yna has wonderful talent, presence and star quality, and we know she’ll bring both magic and heart to this much-loved character. With a flying carpet and a little panto magic, she’s sure to enchant New Brighton audiences.”

This Christmas, audiences will be whisked away on a magical carpet ride as Aladdin comes to the Floral Pavilion, with spectacular staging, music, comedy, audience participation and all the ingredients of a traditional family pantomime.

From the moment the curtain rises, it will be a shared adventure for the whole family: children joining in with the action, grown-ups laughing loudly, and everyone caught up in the colour, excitement, and festive spirit of the story. Audiences will leave the theatre smiling, still talking about their favourite moments and carrying that warm, happy feeling that comes from escaping into another world together, and making a new Christmas memory along the way.

Further casting will be announced shortly.

Tickets are priced from £15 and are available from floralpavilion.com.