Lighthouse presents
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Your dream pantomime
THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER – SUNDAY 5 JANUARY
Various times (THEATRE)
Suitable for all ages
Tickets and information 01202 280000
In her first pantomime, young actor Melaina Pecorini is ready to cast a spell over Lighthouse audiences this Christmas as the Fairy Sunbeam in Sleeping Beauty by drawing on her previous experience – in Harry Potter.
Melaina appeared on stage in the much-praised Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the long-running West End play staged as the eighth Harry Potter story and set 19 years after the events of the final Deathly Hallows novel. It means that whatever happens in her future career, Melaina will always be part of Harry Potter’s world.
“It was amazing,” she says.
“I grew up with Harry Potter and I was a big fan so when I got the call saying I was going to be in it, I couldn’t believe it. It was so wonderful and because you’re fully immersed in the world there’s so much that comes with it, the fandoms. Everybody remembers Harry Potter and it was wonderful be a part of it – for a whole year. I met loads of wonderful people; it was great.”
But although Melaina saw lots of amazing wizardry and magic-making, she also got a taste for the flip side – she played a Dementor, one of the foul creatures that feed on human happiness.
“Oh yes, I’ll always be a Dementor at heart… only kidding!”
In Sleeping Beauty, it’s Sunbeam’s job to help Dame Nanny Nutkins (writer director Chris Jarvis) guard Beauty as she sleeps off the spell cast by the wicked Carabosse (Sarah-Louise Young) before she is awoken by the Prince and returned to the safety of her father King Tucker (Todd Carty).
It’s a traditional family pantomime with lots of family fun, silly jokes and singalong songs from the same team – Chris Jarvis with production designer James Smith, choreographer Daniel Donladson Todd and musical director Adam Tuffrey – that created award winning recent Lighthouse pantos Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and last year’s Aladdin.
“I’m excited to be here and playing Sunbeam, she’s a lot of fun. I grew up in Totnes in Devon and I remember going to pantos with my grandma who lived in Plymouth. It was such a spectacle and probably the main reason I’ve always loved the theatre.
“It’s nice to do something with people that are really passionate about it because it brings it to life. I met Chris at the press night for a show I was in called A Word For Mother and he spoke to me after and asked if I’d ever done panto. I said I hadn’t and he asked if I’d like to, so I said yes. He was really lovely and I’m excited to work with him.”
Melaina graduated from East 15 Acting School with a BA in Acting and Stage Combat on 2018 and has been working ever since.
“I’ve got my actor combat training and I love fighting – on stage and screen, that is – but I’ve also got into aerial training as well. I’m still quite new at it, but I’ve done aerial hoop and silks, wire work as well. In Harry Potter the Dementors were all on wires. It was really fun and although I actually have a slight phobia of heights I still loved doing it, it helps me get over it – face your fears.”
There’s even talk of body boarding, something that Melaina hopes she might get chance to explore more of as she spends Christmas by the sea in Poole.
“You never know, I might have a day for me on Christmas Day as I have a younger sister who’s just turned 10 and my mum and her partner, and my sister, will come and watch the panto, but might not be able to stay for Christmas. My partner will come and watch it as well so maybe I’ll have a little Christmas that’s not actually on Christmas Day.
“I guess the cast are all in the same boat really, so hopefully there’ll be someone here and we can have Christmas together. For me, it’s mainly the food, I love a roast dinner, so as long as I get a Christmas dinner in I’ll be fine!”