Success for home-grown Black Country panto after receiving three national award nominations
A successful pantomime which championed home-grown talent has been acknowledged with a number of nominations for a national award.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's 2025 pantomime Sleeping Beauty has received a total of three nominations at the UK Pantomime Awards, which will be held in April.
The pantomime has been nominated for Best Villain for Danny Beard), Best Script for Tam Ryan and Ian Adams and Best Pantomime – Over 950 Seats.
A spokesman for Wolverhampton Grand Theatre said: "Sleeping Beauty was produced entirely by Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and was a pantomime that championed local talent.
"To receive a total of three nominations is particularly outstanding.
"Such national recognition for a pantomime that was produced in Wolverhampton using the talents of many Grand Theatre staff, and culminated top-class talent in Wolverhampton, is an exciting indication of the Grand’s new vision for pantomime and its major contribution to the UK pantomime industry.
"Following a string of 25 five-star reviews for Sleeping Beauty, and with critics hailing Wolverhampton Grand as “the regional pantomime that all others look to for inspiration” (Black Country Radio), the nominations are appreciated recognition for a pantomime which already achieved so much."
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre chief executive Karen Smallwood said, “Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has a very strong vision for pantomime, one that harnesses community, creativity and collaboration.
"Pantomime is the one show for all the family, and the production must balance the needs of every single audience member.
"We work incredibly hard across all departments to ensure the panto recipe is right and three award nominations on top of the critical acclaim received in December are a strong indication that our pantomime is achieving everything we set out to. We are delighted with the nominations and remain committed to ensuring our pantomime honours tradition yet pushes the boundaries of top-quality, inclusive, family-friendly theatre.”
Best Villain nominee Danny Beard said, “I chose this panto and this theatre over a couple of other offers because there is so much love here and so much thought goes into everything here, from the casting to the writing to the tech, people care on every level with this show and that’s what I’m like when it comes to my work which is why I slot right in with this show and this theatre.”
