Panto producers select Sleeping Beauty from 80 original applicants

After auditioning more than 30 local performers for the title role, the producers of the year’s Hawth pantomime Sleeping Beauty chose Lauren Cocoracchio to appear alongside Stephen Mulhern, impressionist Hilary O’Neil and CBeebies’ Cat Sandion this Christmas.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Sep 2014, 20:42 BST
Lauren (centre) with producers Paul Hendy and Emily WoodLauren (centre) with producers Paul Hendy and Emily Wood
Lauren (centre) with producers Paul Hendy and Emily Wood

Producers Paul Hendy and Emily Wood were faced the difficult choice in narrowing the choice down from an original 80 applicants.

Paul said: “We were very impressed by the standard of talent in the local area but when Lauren walked in, we knew we’d found our Beauty. Lauren has a great voice and is a wonderful actress. We’re aiming to make this production of Sleeping Beauty the best pantomime Crawley has ever seen, and I know Lauren will help us achieve that.’

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“We’re passionate about giving young performers a chance to break into the business. And we also love to use local talent wherever we can, so this was a brilliant opportunity for a local girl.”

Lauren, who was born in Crawley and developed her performance skills in the town until the age of 16, is delighted to have been given the role. She has performed on The Hawth stage before – for both Stages and Act Too. Lauren lives in Horsham but still teaches dance in the town.

Lauren has played the role before at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, but she is especially happy to be returning to The Hawth to take on the role.

The pantomime is at The Hawth from Friday, December 12; tickets are on sale now from The Hawth box office on 01293 553636 or from www.hawth.co.uk.

Related topics:CBeebiesBeauty