Professional quizzer and performer Jenny Ryan - best known for her work in The Chase’s - is set to star in the Wyvern family pantomime Sleeping Beauty.
Joining Jenny, who will play Wicked Fairy Carabosse, will be Swindon’s much loved favourite Dame, David Ashley, and award-nominated comedy actor Ben Goffe, recently nominated for ‘Best Comic’ in the UK Pantomime Association Awards for his appearance as Buttons in last year’s pantomime, Cinderella.
Jenny said: “I am thrilled to be coming to Swindon this Christmas to appear in Sleeping Beauty. I have heard how wonderful Wyvern Theatre audiences are so I can’t wait to get started.
"I know that we are going to have a lot of panto fun and I look forward to hearing everyone booing loudly!”
In 2015 Jenny joined the team of Chasers on ITV's award-winning teatime hit The Chase, now in its 15th series. Nicknamed ‘The Vixen’ and ‘The Bolton Brainiac’ by host Bradley Walsh, Jenny can also be seen in the hugely successful prime time spin-off series Beat the Chasers for ITV1.
She is a regular guest on Fighting Talk on BBC Radio 5 Live and has appeared on numerous other favourites including Would I Lie to You?, Celebrity MasterChef, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Blankety Blank and Celebrity Catchphrase.
A talented singer and musician, Jenny and her fellow Chasers won BBC1's Let's Sing & Dance for Comic Relief with Jenny making to to the final of The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019.
Swindon panto royalty David Ashley’s career has seen him perform across the West End in shows such as Cats, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers and many more. Back for his 12th year in panto at the Wyvern David said he was over the moon to return.
He added: "The audiences in Swindon always feel like my extended family and I cannot wait to get started with all the brilliant panto fun in Sleeping Beauty alongside Jenny and Ben.”
Ben Goffe has most recently been performing in West End show The Choir of Man. Alongside his may stage appearances in panto and with the National Theatre, the RSC and ENO Ben has also appeared in TV and film Hapless, Big Brother’s Big Mouth, The Friday Night Project, Artemis Fowl, AmStarDam and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Ben said: "The audiences in Swindon were so welcoming last year. I had such a wonderful time appearing in Cinderella and so I am so thrilled to be returning to the Wyvern to appear in Sleeping Beauty. It’s going to be a lot of fun!"
Sleeping Beauty will once again be produced by Imagine Theatre, bringing this much-loved fairytale to life packed with of all of your favourite panto ingredients. It promises to be the perfect magical fun-filled familytreat full of sparkle and spectacle.
Laura James, the Theatre Director at the Wyvern Theatre said: "We are thrilled to have Jenny joining us this panto season! Jenny is a fantastic performer and just perfect for the role of Carabosse.
"I know our team and all our wonderful Swindon audiences will make her feel welcome, and with the legendary pairing of David Ashley and Ben Goffe to share the stage with, it’s going to be one incredible show!"
When the wicked fairy Carabosse’s evil curse causes the Princess Beauty to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?
Sleeping Beauty will run from 6 December to 4 January 2026. Tickets are on sale now via swindontheatres.co.uk and visit imaginetheatre.co.uk
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