Rehearsals underway for Aladdin at York Theatre Royal

Robin Simpson and Paul Hawkyard are back as the dame and the villain starring in Aladdin, York Theatre Royal’s 2024 pantomime, running from December 3 to January 5.

They are joined a cast which includes by CBeebies and CBBC presenter Evie Pickerill who plays the Spirit of the Ring and Sario Solomon debuts in the title role.

Cast members Tommy Carmichael, Paul Hawkyard, Evie Pickerill, Robin Simpson and Emily Tang (Image: Ant Robling) As rehearsals get underway, Robin and Paul, who were nominated for Best Ugly Sisters in The UK Pantomime Association 2022 Awards, spoke about working together and returning to the venue in St Leonard's Place once more.

That nomination came after their appearance on stage together appearing as Manky and Mardy in Cinderella a year earlier.

Paul Hawkyard said when coming to York Theatre Royal he 'genuinely feel I’m coming home to be with family' with the crew and colleagues (Image: Ant Robling) Playing Ivan Tobebooed in this production, Paul Hawkyard said: “I love playing the baddie and it’s definitely a lot of fun and good work with someone you know so well, like Robin.

“You get to know the other person’s rhythms and approach to the work.

“It’s not just pantomime where we’ve worked together, we’ve done a few plays together too where we worked opposite each other.

"We appeared together in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in York, and in plays at Harrogate Theatre.

Robin Simpson is playing the Dame for the fourth year in a row (Image: Ant Robling) Robin Simpson, who plays Dame Dolly in York over the festive period said: “Paul is back and I’m happy about that.

“As I’m sure are York audiences – he’s utterly fantastic and a joy to work with.

“Although he always plays villainous parts, he’s a sweetie really.

“As soon as I heard he was involved I rang him and asked him not to upstage me this time.”

Sario Solomon, who plays Aladdin, was one of the winners of the BBC reality TV competition Let It Shine (Image: Ant Robling) Robin said rehearsals can be an ‘absolute joy’ where the cast can put forward ideas and Paul adding that any good jokes they think of can be suggested for the script.

Paul said: “I like to think I’m a bit of a joker and have been trying to think of something witty and sharp to say about returning to the pantomime at York.

“But the truth is I genuinely feel I’m coming home to be with family – the amazing team at York from front of house and backstage crew to the amazing creative team.

 “I’m always welcomed with open arms, be it working there or just popping in for a sit-down and coffee.

“York is a very special place and the theatre for me is the heart of it.”