PACE Theatre Company will bring Sleeping Beauty to Paisley Arts Centre for its annual family pantomime this Christmas.
The new version, written and directed by Andy McGregor, will run from Wednesday 25th November 2026 until Tuesday 5th January 2027.
The story follows Princess Annie, who falls into a 20-year sleep after being cursed by an evil fairy.
Her adoptive mum, a would-be magician, and an archaeologist must then set out on a chaotic quest to wake her.
Comedy duo Chris Alexander and Alan Orr will head the professional cast.
Alexander has appeared as a pantomime dame with PACE since 2017. His other credits include Battery Park, Smile, Martha and White.
Orr has previously appeared in pantomimes in Paisley and Dunfermline. His credits also include Cathy, Hen Night Horror, A New Life and The Dolls Abroad.
Nina Gray will play Sleeping Beauty. She previously appeared in the title role of PACE’s Cinderella in 2022 and played Gerda in The Snow Queen at Perth Theatre last year.
Kirsty Malone will play Malvora, the bad fairy. Her previous credits include Funeral for my Boobs, Melania, Aladdin, The Elves and the Shoemaker and the UK tour of Sunshine on Leith.
The cast will be completed by four teams of young actors selected from PACE’s youth theatre groups.
McGregor has written PACE’s annual pantomime since 2019. His previous productions for the company include Cinderella, Aladdin and last year’s Snow White.
The set and costumes will be designed by Fraser Lappin, while Alan Orr will produce the show and provide its original music.
Jenni Mason, artistic director at PACE, said: “It’s a pleasure to announce that this year’s PACE panto will be Sleeping Beauty — a festive treat packed with all the fun and excitement audiences have come to expect from the PACE panto!
“This Christmas, we’re inviting families and friends to come together and enjoy a fantastic live entertainment experience, with a colourful cast of characters, plenty of laughs, toe-tapping original music and lots of opportunities to join in. From the youngest members of the audience to the young at heart, there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy, whilst creating special Christmas memories that audiences can share together.”
Group bookings of at least 15 tickets will open at 10am on Thursday 27th August by calling 0345 130 5218.
General ticket sales will begin at 10am on Tuesday 1st September through www.oneren.org/whats-on/.
Tickets cost between £13.50 and £26, with a booking fee applying. Groups of at least 15 people will receive a 10% discount.
The production will be staged at Paisley Arts Centre.
| Booking type | Opens | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| Group bookings 15 or more tickets |
10am on Thursday 27th August | Call 0345 130 5218 |
| General ticket sales | 10am on Tuesday 1st September | www.oneren.org/whats-on/ |
| Ticket type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard tickets | £13.50 to £26 |
| Schools and groups of 15 or more | 10% discount |
A booking fee applies.
| Date | Performance times |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 25th November | 7pm |
| Thursday 26th November | 12.30pm and 7pm |
| Friday 27th November | 10am and 7pm |
| Saturday 28th November | 11am, 3pm and 7pm |
| Sunday 29th November | 1pm and 5pm |
| Tuesday 1st December | 10am and 7pm |
| Wednesday 2nd December | 10am and 7pm |
| Thursday 3rd December | 12.30pm and 7pm |
| Friday 4th December | 10am and 7pm |
| Saturday 5th December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Sunday 6th December | 1pm relaxed performance and 5pm |
| Tuesday 8th December | 7pm BSL performance |
| Wednesday 9th December | 10am and 7pm |
| Thursday 10th December | 12.30pm and 7pm |
| Friday 11th December | 10am and 7pm |
| Saturday 12th December | 11am, 3pm and 7pm |
| Sunday 13th December | 1pm and 5pm |
| Tuesday 15th December | 12.30pm and 7pm |
| Wednesday 16th December | 10am and 7pm |
| Thursday 17th December | 10am and 7pm |
| Friday 18th December | 12.30pm and 7pm |
| Saturday 19th December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Sunday 20th December | 1pm and 5pm |
| Tuesday 22nd December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Wednesday 23rd December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Thursday 24th December | 11am, 3pm and 7pm |
| Friday 25th December | No performance |
| Saturday 26th December | No performance |
| Sunday 27th December | 1pm and 5pm |
| Monday 28th December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Tuesday 29th December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Wednesday 30th December | 3pm and 7pm |
| Thursday 31st December | 11am and 3pm |
| Friday 1st January | No performance |
| Saturday 2nd January | No performance |
| Sunday 3rd January | 1pm and 5pm |
| Monday 4th January | 3pm and 7pm |
| Tuesday 5th January | 11am, 3pm and 6pm |
Photo: Nina Gray, who will play the title role in PACE Theatre Company’s Sleeping Beauty at Paisley Arts Centre.
Photo Credit: Monument Photos