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West End talent joins local youngsters as Rapunzel arrives at Whitley Bay Playhouse
The show will run for four performances over two days, Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th July, with matinee and evening shows at 2pm and 6pm each day. Billed as an action-packed family adventure, the production combines comedy, musical numbers, costumes and audience participation aimed at children and families during the school summer holidays.
Alongside the professional company, the production features 28 local young performers, split across two teams, who will share the Playhouse stage with the cast throughout the run.
Taking the title role is Rebecca Lightburn, a Performers College graduate whose career spans West End and UK stage work, arena productions, television and commercials. Her theatre credits include title roles in Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Snow White and The Little Mermaid, alongside arena work in productions of Grease, Mamma Mia and Dirty Dancing. Her screen credits include work for ITV and Sky Sports, as well as animated series Bing and Flop.
The production is produced, written and directed by Reece Sibbald, who returns to Whitley Bay and also takes on the role of Pascal the chameleon. Sibbald has appeared in 36 professional pantomimes across the UK, including productions at Newcastle Theatre Royal, and has performed as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz more than 750 times. Through his company, Reece Sibbald Productions Ltd, he has staged family productions seen by large audiences nationally and created performance opportunities for local young people.
Playhouse regular Ryan Hill takes on the role of Flynn. Hill has previously appeared in Whitley Bay productions as The Beast, Prince Jasper and King Triton, and his wider career includes touring with Scooby Doo Live, appearances alongside television presenters Stephen Mulhern and Mister Maker, and roles in touring and tribute productions.
Charlie Hill plays Mother Gothel. Her credits include UK tours, performances with CBeebies and CBBC, and warm-up work for pop group Steps; she recently played the Wicked Queen in Snow White at The Roxy Theatre, Consett.
Comic relief comes from Phil Dixon as King Combover, alongside a number of other roles in the production. A performer for four decades, Dixon is also Assistant Head of Curriculum for Performing Arts at Newcastle College Performance Academy.
The production follows a run at The Roxy Theatre in Leadgate over Easter, which producers say became that venue's highest-selling Easter family show to date.
Commenting on the production, producer and writer Reece Sibbald said the show is "fast-paced, funny, packed with music and full of surprises from start to finish," and pointed to the cast's combined experience across the West End, national tours, television and arenas alongside North East performers. He added that creating performance opportunities for young people is something the company is particularly passionate about, describing the involvement of the 28 local children as something that makes the production "even more special."
Tickets
Rapunzel – A Tangled Tale plays at Playhouse Whitley Bay on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th July, with performances at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are available from the Playhouse Box Office or online at https://axs-uk.sjv.io/bkyqob
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