Panto witch conjures up four-legged pet to steal the limelight

THE cast of Richmond’s pantomime at the Georgian Theatre Royal was led on stage by a four-legged star sure to gain celebrity status over the festive period.

Jackson, a three-year-old cockapoo from Leeds, plays Toto in The Wizard of Oz.

Audiences may find it hard to believe this confident little performer making his acting debut in Richmond is a rescue dog that just a couple of years ago was down on his luck.

After being airlifted out of an unsuitable home, he found a new owner in actress Sarah Kearsley, who also happens to be a professional dog trainer.

When Sarah was cast in The Wizard of Oz as Alfalfa, the Wicked Witch of the West, Jackson found he also had a leading role to play.

Clare Allen, writer and director, said: “We were intending to hold separate auditions for Toto, but when we got talking to Sarah we realised the show’s canine star was actually sitting right under our noses.

"Not only is Jackson incredibly cute, he is also highly talented and can perform a wide range of clever tricks. He is very friendly and has already become a firm favourite with cast and crew. We are sure that our audiences will love him.”

Sarah, who appeared in the Georgian Theatre Royal’s 2012 pantomime Babes in the Wood, is delighted to be returning to Richmond in the company of Jackson.

“Jackson was rehomed with me the day before his first birthday and we are now each other’s best friends. I teach dog training at Walkabout Hounds in Leeds and, during his time with me in classes, Jackson had already excelled at advanced obedience training and intermediate agility.

"It has not been difficult to get him to learn how to do some extra tricks and we even get to share a dressing room. Jackson is particularly excited by the prospect of the river which we will be visiting pretty often when we are not on stage,” she added.

Freya Mawhinney returns to Richmond to play Dorothy. This is her first professional acting job. After working her way through the Georgian's youth theatre group and with local societies, she went on to study at the School of Arts, Northampton University.

Other cast members include well-known faces from previous productions at the Georgian. Gary "Gacko" Bridgens appears as Glinda. This is his eighth Richmond pantomime and fourth outing as Dame.

Nick O’Connor as the Lion is back in Richmond having performed earlier this year in his one-man show, Being Brel – detailing the life of the legendary troubadour Jacques Brel. He is joined by Ross Dean as the Tin Man and Edward Cole as the Scarecrow, who both have plenty of pantomime experience at theatres across the country.

Daniel Bowater returns as musical director for his eighth pantomime at The Georgian. He is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer and arranger, and will provide the important musical dimension to the production, together with accomplished musician Kerrin Tatman.

The chorus is made up of three groups of talented young performers that have become a mainstay of this popular family-style of pantomime.

The Wizard of Oz follows the success of Mother Goose, The Adventures of Sinbad, Babes in the Wood, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk and last year’s box office record-breaker Snow White.

It runs from Thursday, December 7, until Sunday, January 7. Tickets are £8, available from the box office on 01748 825252 or via the website georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk.