Further cast announced for Plymouth's pants paved with gold starring Shane Richie

Theatre Royal Plymouth and pantomime producer Crossroads Pantomimes have today (08 Sep 2025) announced further casting for their upcoming production of Dick Whittington, playing from Friday 12 December 2025 to Saturday 10 January 2026. The production will star the previously announced television, recording, musical theatre and pantomime star Shane Richie, who will headline this year’s pantomime in the title role.

Shane will be joined by Plymouth panto favourite Samuel Holmes as the Spirit of Bow Bells, musical theatre stars Anne Smith as Queen Rat, Emily Beth Harrington, also returning to her hometown for the festive season, as Alice Fitzwarren and Kira McPherson as Kitty Cat, and panto dame Iain Stuart Robertson as Sarah, The Cook.

This year’s production will celebrate local talent, with two members of the company hailing from Plymouth. Samuel Holmes is returning for his third pantomime season at Theatre Royal Plymouth and will once again delight audiences with his trademark humour. Sam was most recently seen at TRP in the smash-hit production, Calamity Jane. He will be joined by fellow Plymothian Emily Beth Harrington, who is returning to TRP for the first time in five years, previously performing in Robinson Crusoe in 2020, and is bringing her extensive pantomime experience (Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Aladdin, Dick Whittington) back to her hometown.

A celebrated panto legend, Shane returns to Plymouth following his acclaimed performance in 2022's hugely successful production of Sleeping Beauty, promising a festive adventure that’s pure gold. Shane Richie is a well-known star of prime-time television, acclaimed for his charismatic on screen presence. In addition to his illustrious television career, Shane has many theatre credits to his name, including the London West End and Manchester production of Grease, Boogie Nights, A Perfect Murder, Not Dead Enough, a sellout UK tour of Scrooge and has played ‘Hugo’ and ‘Loco Chanelle’ in Everybody’s Talking about Jamie in the West End and on UK tour. Most recently, Shane performed to sell out shows across the UK alongside his long-time pals Brian Conley, Joe Pasquale and Bradley Walsh as one quarter of the The Prat Pack. 

Back for a third year in Plymouth, Samuel Holmes has performed in West End and touring productions including Curtains, Shrek, The Wedding Singer, Mrs Henderson Presents, Spamalot, Crazy For You and Calamity Jane. He is also a writer and director, has worked extensively in pantomime, and accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy on behalf of Monty Python.

Anne Smith has appeared in the West End in Evita, Chess, Mamma Mia!, Annie, and Sister Act. Her stage work also includes Piaf, Amadeus, Cabaret, and Company, and she has been seen on television in EastEnders and Taggart.

Emily Beth Harrington, born in Plymouth, is returning to the role of Alice Fitzwarren after last playing the role at Theatre Royal Nottingham in 2023. Emily has performed in Bat Out of Hell, Grease, Miss Saigon, and Starlight Express. She has also taken leading roles in pantomimes including Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Aladdin, and Dick Whittington.

Panto dame Iain Stuart Robertson has appeared in more than 100 productions, including The Hobbit, Amadeus, King Lear, and Tom’s Midnight Garden. His screen credits include Endeavour, The Bletchley Circle, and Bel Ami, and he is also a prolific voice artist. Iain has performed in panto for over 30 years. 

Kira McPherson has appeared in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Matilda The Musical, Bring It On, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Her work also includes stage, film, and dance performances.

Dick Whittington is staged by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, led by Michael Harrison and the team behind recent Theatre Royal Plymouth Christmas successes including last year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

James Mackenzie-Blackman, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: 

"Our annual pantomime is such an important part of our festive season at Theatre Royal Plymouth, and we are delighted to welcome Shane Richie back to lead this year’s Dick Whittington. It’s especially exciting to have two of our cast members, Samuel Holmes and Emily Beth Harrington, both born here in Plymouth, joining the company alongside a host of West End stars. With this extraordinary mix of homegrown and national talent, audiences can look forward to a production full of laughter, music and festive magic for the whole family to enjoy.”

Join Dick Whittington as he seeks fame, fortune, and happiness journeying to become Lord Mayor. 

Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients audiences know to expect from Theatre Royal Plymouth, don’t miss the action-packed pantomime that promises to be full of laugh-out-loud comedy, plenty of boos and hisses and lavish sets and costumes from The London Palladium.

Dick Whittington will play at Theatre Royal Plymouth, from 12 December 2025 - 10 January 2026. Tickets are available from https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/dick-whittington/.