'I've always loved pantomimes and to get the part in this one is amazing': Budding actress delighted to get starring role in Wolverhampton panto
A budding actress has been celebrating after landing a huge role in the annual Wolverhampton Grand Theatre festive pantomime.
Rosa David from Penn in Wolverhampton has been cast in the role of the young Princess in Sleeping Beauty, which runs at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton from November 29 to January 4.
It means the 11-year-old will appear alongside stars such as RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, impressionist Debra Stephenson and pantomime regulars Tam Ryan and Ian Adams on the big stage at the Grand throughout the festive season.
Rosa said she was still taking in the enormity of the news about getting the role, but also said she was excited and looking forward to seeing her friends in the audience.
She said: "I means a lot to me as I love acting and I've been on so many different shows with different companies and when I found out that I'd got the role, I was really excited because I've always watched the pantomime at Christmas over the years and it just looks amazing.
"When I found out I'd got the part, I was very shocked and it still hasn't sunk in yet, and I haven't really met the cast yet, but I'll be able to see who's in it on Sunday as that's when I have my first rehearsal.
"I've told all my friends about this and most of them said they would try and book tickets and I gave my schedule to my head teacher and she said she would put it on the school website, so I think she's going to come as well, plus they've given me the time off school to do this as well."
Rosa's mother Danielle said she was very proud of her daughter for getting the part and said that she had played a part in getting Rosa into the role after seeing an advertisement for auditions of the pantomime.
She said: "It still hasn't sunk in yet and it feels quite surreal, but Rosa has always been into acting and I think she's got that love of drama and singing from me, so that's just been a natural path for her.
"She's already a member of community drama groups and she's part of school drama shows and has always enjoyed it, so when a friend of mine sent me the advert for the auditions, I just singed up Rosa without asking as I knew she would want to do it and, after checking, she absolutely wanted to do it.
"We weren't thinking anything of it as there were 50 children at the audition, but we found out very quickly as she did the audition and then the next day, we got the email saying she'd got the role.
"It's such an honour for her to be part of it as we've spent so many Christmases going to the panto and enjoying it, so the fact that Rosa will now be on that stage is so exciting and an amazing opportunity."
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