Shane Richie’s Dick Whittington pantomime seeks young performers in Plymouth

Theatre Royal Plymouth is inviting children from across the region and Dartmoor to audition for its 2025 Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington.

The theatre is looking for two teams of eight children to join the cast alongside actor and TV star Shane Richie, who will play the title role. 

He will be joined by Plymouth panto favourite Samuel Holmes, musical theatre performers Anne Smith, Emily Beth Harrington, and Kira McPherson, and Iain Stuart Robertson as panto dame Sarah the Cook.

Auditions will take place in two stages at the TR2 Production and Learning Centre in Plymouth. 

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The first round of auditions will take place on Sunday 5 October 2025, with registration from 9.15am and auditions starting at 10am.

A smaller group will then be invited back on Saturday 18 October 2025 to work with the show’s choreographer and the sixteen successful applicants will then be chosen for the final ensemble.

The opportunity is open to children in Key Stage 2 (school years 3–6) who are no taller than 4ft 8in, confident in modern dance and live no further than 20 miles from the Theatre Royal.

Rehearsals begin in November, with full company rehearsals and performances running from 8 December 2025 to 10 January 2026.

To make the process accessible, Theatre Royal Plymouth is offering travel bursaries and providing meals on show days. 

There are no costs involved in auditioning or taking part.

Theatre Royal Plymouth says it is especially keen to see young people who have not previously been involved in its pantomimes, and encourages children from all backgrounds to apply.

Parents of successful auditionees will be required to attend a meeting on Thursday 23 October to complete performance licence paperwork.

Anyone interested should complete a consent form before arriving at auditions.