Cast announced for Beauty and the Beast, this year’s rock ‘n’ roll panto at Liverpool Everyman

A highlight of Liverpool’s cultural diary for over 45 years. As rehearsals begin, full cast and creatives announced for Beauty and the Beast – this year’srock ‘n’ roll panto at Liverpool Everyman.

2026 at the Liverpool Everyman will end in monstrous style as the theatre presents a brand-new Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, Beauty & the Beast, written by Joe Ward Munrow and directed by Nathan Powell.  The cast are Bethan Aitken, Henry Brennan, Amy Bastani, Adryne Caulder-James, Damien James, Sorrel Jordan, Adam Keast, Izzy Neish, Adam Scott Pringle, Liam Tobin and Zoe West.

Opening on 14 November and running until 6 January 2027, Beauty & the Beast confirms the Everyman’s position at the forefront of new writing, reaffirming its dedication to talent development and community engagement, and producing work with local connections and national impact.

Joe Ward Munrow is an award-winning playwright who has been based in Liverpool for over twenty years. In 2022, Joe founded the theatre company New Step with Nathan Powell. He is a lecturer in Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. In 2025, he was the inaugural winner of the Robert Holman Award. Joe’s credits for the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse include: The Legend of Ned Ludd (Everyman); Dogs and Held (Playhouse). Other credits include: Screaming Heart (winner of the Mercury Weinberger playwriting award); Blue (The Gate, London/Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama); The Busker (BBC Radio 4); Hercules and Phoebe (National Theatre ‘Let’s Play’ tour) and The Laundry (Brockley Jack Studio Theatre).

Director Nathan Powell is the Creative Director for the Everyman and Playhouse Theatres. Previously Artistic Director of the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF), Powell has championed emerging talent and forged groundbreaking partnerships, showcasing some of the most exciting new work from across the country. He was the Creative Producer and Associate Artist for 20 Stories High (an Associate Company of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres) and is co-founder of New Step Theatre with writer Joe Ward Munrow.  Their production of DOGS sold out the Playhouse Studio in 2022.

As writer and adapter, Nathan’s credits include Pleasant Land and Homegirl (Derby Theatre).  As a director, his recent credits include Sucker Punch (Queens Theatre Hornchurch in association with the National Theatre) and A Play for the Living in the Time of Extinction (Headlong and The Barbican in association with Shakespeare North), The Mountaintop for Leicester Curve and on a national tour, and Alice in Wonderland for Shakespeare North.  He wrote the Everyman’s hit production Takeaway in 2025.

Nathan Powell said,

‘The joyful chaos of our Rock ‘n’ Roll panto is one of the highlights of our year at the Liverpool Everyman.  It’s deeply rooted in the area’s musical tradition and showcases the very best of our city.  I can’t wait to introduce audiences to our live band and our incredible cast who will bring this well-loved tale to life in time-honoured fashion but with that extra sparkle of Everyman Christmas magic.’

Beauty and the Beast plays at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse 14 November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Tickets are available here.