Beauty-ful panto at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

The Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock are delighted to announce that they are fully cast for their spectacular family pantomime Beauty and the Beast and the cast recently met up for their photo shoot.

 Gary Morrison, James McAnerney and David J Higgins will be joining the previously announced River City stars Sally Howitt as Nightshade and Billy McElhaney as Angus along with Fraser Boyle as Dame Betty and Amber Howland as Beauty.

 Gary is thrilled to be returning to the Palace for the third time to take on the role of the comic, Boabby.

 “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of the comic this year as in my previous years at Kilmarnock I have been the baddies sidekick each time which were fabulous comedy roles. It will be such an honour to be lead comic this year as I have a lot of experience in this role.  For me I always enjoy the interaction with the audience and playing lead comic will be a real pleasure.

 “I love panto in Kilmarnock because of how much the audiences are right up for a laugh and a good fun few hours. The pantomimes are always well supported which shows what a fabulous community spirit they have in Kilmarnock. Also the staff at The Palace are always so lovely and warm which makes you feel at home straight away.”

 For James McAnerney Beauty and the Beast marks his fifth pantomime at the Palace and yet again he is playing the baddie, but he doesn’t mind being cast as the villain, in fact he rather enjoys it.

 “Being the baddie is so much fun, as you get to play good and bad. Usually the baddie always has to become friends with the rest of the characters before being horrible and nasty. And also because the baddies always gets loads of booze - oops sorry, boo's!”

 “Baddies can be very iconic characters. My favourite baddie has to be Darth Vader, his presence the voice, everything, but the best panto baddie for me is Hook as everything about him is scary -especially his right hand. My character this year is rather vain but I don't think I'm vain in real life, but I do like to look in the mirror, just to...(dramatic pause).... Reflect (sorry the panto jokes will be better I promise!).”

 David J Higgins reprises the role he played in Reading in 2012 for producers Imagine Theatre when he takes on the role of the Beast.

 “Beast is a great character to play as he starts off as a bit of a baddie but then as the show continues his character completely transforms.”

 With such a fabulous line up Beauty and the Beast promises to be a spectacular family treat for the whole family this Christmas. The show runs from Saturday 26 November until Friday 30 December 2016.