Dreams, parsnips and K-Pop!

We caught up with our brilliant Sleeping Beauty cast to hear all about their unusual dreams, fabulous festive plans and perfect Christmas jumpers. You can see them in action from Saturday 29 November right through to Wednesday 31 December!

Jacob Butler

• Who do you play in Sleeping Beauty?

I mainly play Dan, Molly’s best friend, but you may also catch me as a Hippo-Faced Man, a bloke called Dave and a walking, talking sock. You might also remember me as Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk way back in 2021!

• What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

In the early hours of 1 April 2019, I was having a dream I was a fish. Everything was going really well, swimming about, blowing bubbles, enjoying myself, when all of a sudden I had to dodge a load of fishermen who were trying to catch me. With the help of a very kind shark I got away. I’ve been vegan ever since! 

• What do you dream of for Christmas day?

A load of Christmas food, Wallace and Gromit on the telly and a full family board game! 

• Favourite Christmas food?

Stuffing, parsnips and roast potatoes. Without a doubt. I could eat that combo for every meal. In fact, I’m getting a bit peckish now…

• Favourite bit of Christmas?

I love Christmas music and films! Boney M playing on the speaker followed by It’s a Wonderful Life on the telly. Perfect start to Christmas! 

• What would your best Christmas jumper look like?

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say this… so don’t tell anyone. But I kept my Christmas jumper from Jack and the Beanstalk, and it’s genuinely my favourite one. It still has ‘Jack – Jacob Butler – SJT’ stitched into the back. But don’t tell anyone, I don’t want them to take it back!!

 Amy Drake

• Who do you play in Sleeping Beauty?

I play Amber (one of Molly’s friends), Auntie Claire, Clair de Lune (the good fairy) and Fluffy Robin. There’s quite a few costume changes for me this year! I last performed at the SJT in Christmas 2023, playing Nan and one of the enchanted statues in Beauty and the Beast. But I’ve been back several times to watch the brilliant shows here – and get my fill of seaside donuts! 

• What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

My dreams recently have been very weird indeed – maybe this show is having an effect on me! Or maybe it’s all the cheese and crackers before bed… anyway, the last dream I remember included a soggy sock, standing on a plug then being in an underwater airplane! 

• What do you dream of for Christmas day?

I dream of… a lie-in! I’d love to be cosy and snoozing in bed wearing Christmas pyjamas. But that’s not likely as my mum is always up at the crack of dawn – she’s the biggest kid and gets super excited. Not even a cup of tea and slice of toast can calm her! So I guess I’ll settle for plenty of Christmas cuddles.

• Favourite Christmas food?

All of it… Stuffing balls! Gravy! YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS (I don’t care what anyone else says, they’re an essential part of Christmas dinner). I’m also quite partial to a glass of port with some Very Merry Munch whilst decorating the Christmas tree. All rounded off with a healthy dose of Gaviscon.

• Favourite bit of Christmas?

Well, I’m very lucky and get a Christmas Day treasure hunt. My Pops creates clues for me to open throughout my advent calendar, then on Christmas Day I get a cipher to solve the riddle and find a bonus present Santa has left for me! I wonder if this year I’ll find the bath plug…?

• What would your best Christmas jumper look like?

I already have my best Christmas jumper (it’s actually a cardigan), which I bought from a charity shop. It’s black with gold buttons and colourful Christmas stitching! It could only be improved by some flashing fairy lights and a secret pocket for snacking cheese…  

Annie Kirkman

•  Who do you play in Sleeping Beauty?

I play the baddie, Crepuscula, mwahahahahaha! I’ve been very lucky to do a few things at the SJT. My first job here was as the baddie in Beauty and the Beast in 2023. Then last year I went onto play the baddie of all baddies (is someone trying to tell me something?!), Dracula, although it was the silliest Dracula ever! This year I was in the 90s Shakespeare musical, Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less), Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, and I was delighted to be involved in the 70th birthday celebrations. It’s safe to say the SJT has quickly become a home from home and I LOVE it. 

• What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

I’m not sure about crazy but I have a recurring dream where I am chewing never-ending gum. The more I try to get rid of it, the more there is. It’s put me right off any chewing gum! 

• What do you dream of for Christmas day?

Being with my family. This year I get to spend it with my two wonderful nieces: they bring so much Christmas magic. 

• Favourite Christmas food?

One of our family traditions is to have ‘tapas’, basically a picky tea, on Christmas Eve. Just a buffet of everything you can think of. It’s the best! 

• Favourite bit of Christmas?

The afternoon, when you’ve had food, you’ve opened presents and you can just chill and soak it all in. 

• What would your best Christmas jumper look like?

Rainbow leopard print and sparkly!

Oliver Mawdsley 

• Who do you play in Sleeping Beauty?

I play Uncle Harry (a retired tooth fairy), a magically transfigured pat of butter called Butter, and the Hippo-Faced Man. My first trip to the SJT was in Comedy of Errors (More or Less) playing the Dromio twins, and I also played the Beast and Bumtrouser in Beauty and the Beast a few years ago.

• What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

I once dreamt I was in rainbow trousers while singing K-Pop numbers, and then suddenly I was being shouted at by hundreds of children who parroted my lines back to me and booed me, and then there was snow and bright lights and then I realised – I was in panto.

• What do you dream of for Christmas day?

As an actor, I spend a lot of time away, so my perfect Christmas would be a day at home with my wife and my dog (Merlin Milkybark Mawdsley) sat on the sofa listening to Tijuana Christmas on the record player while reading under a duvet.

• Favourite Christmas food?

Pigs in blankets – the greatest Christmas cuisine of all time.

• Favourite bit of Christmas?

Christmas Eve! As a kid, I used to shout my Christmas wish list up the "chimney" (it was a fake fireplace...) with my sisters and leave out some sherry and mince pies for Santa, and nowadays, me and my wife give each other a book in the evening that we spend all the next day reading. Christmas Eve is essentially Christmas without the washing up. 

• What would your best Christmas jumper look like?

A picture of my dog with a Santa hat on.

Kiara Nicole Pillai

• Who do you play in Sleeping Beauty?

I play Sleeping Beauty herself, but in our version she’s 11-year-old Molly who’s about to turn 12 and has a very strange recurring dream! I made my professional debut as an actor at the SJT two years ago as Belle in Beauty and the Beast (with the same gorgeous team I’m with this year)! I’ve also been at the SJT this summer in Pride and Prejudice.

• What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

I had a dream where everyone in the world could only speak Spanish, and I was trying to remember every English word I’d ever heard so I could teach the world English.

• What do you dream of for Christmas day?

My best friends’ kids having magical Christmases! I love dreaming about them opening the presents I’ve got them and just experiencing the sheer delight of Christmas from their point of view.

• Favourite Christmas food?

Not technically a food, but I LOVE a hot chocolate from a Christmas market.

• Favourite bit of Christmas?

Christmas shows! I think there’s nothing more infectiously joyful than screaming along to pop songs at the top of your lungs and watching lots of young people have their first experience of Christmas.

• What would your best Christmas jumper look like?

I’d love it to have little bows on it and lots of glitter! 

Sleeping Beauty runs 29 Nov - 31 Dec, with tickets from £10. Get them online here, phone 01723 370 541 or email [email protected]!