A performer in a blue feathered gown and high turquoise wig holds a wand with arms open amid shimmering blue beams.

Mercury Theatre, Colchester2023

Sleeping Beauty

The Production

Mercury Theatre Colchester’s 2023 pantomime Sleeping Beauty reimagined the fairy tale in the wintery world of Colchestria, where Princess Luna faces Carabosse’s curse. The family production ran in the Main Theatre from 25 November 2023 to 14 January 2024.

39 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Ryan McBryde
Musical Director: Paul Herbert
Choreographer: Rosie Mather
Lighting Design: Matt Ladkin
Set & Costume Design: Jasmine Swan
Sound Design: Nico Menghini
Photography: Steve Gregson

An expansive winter tableau places a blue-gowned figure in the foreground before rows of dancers and oversized stars overhead.

A performer in a green dress embraces a performer in a white feathered costume on the brightly lit stage.

A red-and-yellow costumed performer poses in a gothic doorway washed with red light and surrounded by clocks and dark wall panels.

A very wide view of the full stage shows a colourful ensemble framed by oversized winter trees, glowing stars and a painted village backdrop.

A red-costumed performer with a tall candle-like headpiece holds their arms open against a vivid kitchen backdrop.

A symmetrical icy ensemble surrounds a blue-gowned performer, with white-costumed dancers spread across the star-lit stage.

Three brightly costumed comic performers group together at the front of the stage, with one crouching in the centre.

Small figures stand in a dark blue winter landscape, with haze and glowing star shapes creating a cold, magical atmosphere.

A red-costumed performer dances beside a white feathered performer as both lean into the movement under pink and blue light.

Four brightly costumed performers stand at the front of the stage before a painted castle and village scene.

A red-lit ensemble in dark costumes forms a dynamic stage picture around a central red-costumed performer.

A blue-gowned performer sits center stage while a white feathered performer and a patterned-dress performer flank the scene under aurora-like light.

A lone green-and-yellow costumed performer stands beneath sweeping blue and green light on an icy landscape.

Two comic performers in patterned kitchen-themed costumes pose with arms spread in front of a painted kitchen set.

A red-costumed figure stands forward in magenta-blue light while a white feathered performer appears within the icy scenic arch behind.

A smiling performer in an ornate patterned dress and towering headpiece holds up a small red prop against a blue backdrop.

A red-costumed performer and a white feathered performer cross in front of a warm orange-lit ensemble.

A lone performer stands center stage under blue light, framed by a starry arch and a rounded painted interior backdrop.

A red-costumed performer stands center stage as one performer leaps at the side and another lies on the floor in pink-blue lighting.

Two elaborately dressed performers interact under blue light, one in a patterned dress with a towering headpiece and one in a blue feathered gown with a wand.

Dark-costumed dancers sweep across a red-lit stage while a cluster of bright costumes gathers at stage right.

A colourful group stands beneath a sweeping blue aurora-like arch on an icy landscape set.

A red-costumed performer stands in a blue-lit woodland scene holding a staff, isolated by a tight spotlight.

A single small performer stands in a palace-like interior set, framed by colourful trees and green-red stage light.

White-costumed dancers form a lively ensemble around a central red-costumed figure on a cool blue stage.

A red-cloaked performer and a green-dressed performer stand in a blue-lit forest scene near a glowing spinning-wheel-like prop.

Red light floods the stage as white beams cut through haze above performers gathered under the star-covered arch.

A blue-feathered performer with a wand stands full length near dark scenic wings, with a turquoise skirt glowing at the hem.

A green-and-yellow costumed performer stands center while red-costumed performers move on either side, one captured mid-leap.

A blue-gowned performer leads a line of black-and-white costumed dancers beneath the icy arch.

The company performs across the stage in a deep red lighting state, with central figures picked out against the arched scenic backdrop.

Two performers face each other beside a brightly painted caravan, one in a red cloak and one in a striped costume.

A red-costumed performer poses beside snow-covered scenery and a decorated tree glowing with blue lights.

Several colourful performers are spaced across an icy blue stage around a central blue-gowned figure beneath a starry arch.

A white feathered performer stands isolated in a red wash as dark figures move near the edges of the stage.

A bright ensemble fills the snowy village set beneath a blue starry arch, with central figures surrounded by warm orange costumes.

A red-saturated stage frames silhouetted performers on the left and a brightly lit group on the right beneath the forest arch.

A colourful village tableau spreads across the stage with a red-costumed figure at the centre under a bright starry arch.

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