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Meet the cast and creative team of Beauty and the Beast
This Christmas is a truly special one for us at the Citizens Theatre. We’re thrilled to be back in our redeveloped home, and even more excited to welcome audiences for our first festive production in the new building: a bold, funny, and family-friendly retelling of Beauty and The Beast.
At the Citz, we’ve always done Christmas a little differently – stories full of imagination, heart, and just the right amount of mischief. Beauty and The Beast continues that tradition. This show is a celebration of being bold, being kind, and being gloriously yourself. And we can’t wait to share it with you.
Our cast this year is a fantastic mix of familiar faces and exciting new talent. We’re delighted to introduce Israela Efomi as Beauty. This is her professional debut, and she brings something truly special to the role. She stars alongside Nicholas Marshall as Beast, one of our 2025/26 Graduate Actors. The ensemble cast also includes the brilliant Tyler Collins, Elicia Daly, Holly Howden Gilchrist, Michael Guest, and Martin Donaghy – each bringing their own magic to the stage.
The script, written by the wonderful Lewis Hetherington, is full of wit and wonder. If you saw his Red Riding Hood with us in 2022, you’ll know just how thoughtful and entertaining his work is for children and adults alike.
Dominic Hill, Artistic Director, Citizens Theatre, commented:
“This is an important moment for the Citizens Theatre – our first Christmas show in our new building, and one that reflects our long-standing commitment to creating high-quality, imaginative theatre for families. Our Christmas productions have always offered something a little different – thoughtful, funny, and full of heart – and Beauty and The Beast continues that tradition. With a cast that brings together familiar faces and fresh new talent, and a creative team experienced in making exceptional work for families, this is a joyful, ambitious production we’re proud to share with audiences this festive season.”
We’re especially proud of the incredible team bringing this magical world to life. Co-directing the production is our Artistic Director, Dominic Hill, alongside the brilliant Joanna Bowman, whose work you might know from her multi-award-winning Escaped Alone at the Tron Theatre and Moonset at the Citz. They will be working closely with a powerhouse creative team – each of whom has helped shape past Citz Christmas shows.
Design is by Rachael Canning, whose inventive approach brings the world of Beauty and the Beast to life with bold visuals and thoughtful detail. Audiences may remember her work from past Citizens Theatre productions including A Christmas Carol, Hansel & Gretel, Pinocchio and Rapunzel. Lighting is by Lizzie Powell, whose dynamic and atmospheric designs have featured in A Christmas Carol, The Libertine, Pinocchio and Red Riding Hood. Original music is composed by Nikola Kodjabashia, returning to the Citizens with a distinctive sound familiar from A Christmas Carol, Hansel & Gretel and Cyrano de Bergerac. Movement direction is by Benedicte Seierup and Lucien Lindsay-MacDougall, who have previously collaborated on Citizens Theatre productions including A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Crime and Punishment and Pinocchio.
For us, this production isn’t just about putting on a show – it’s about welcoming you back. We’ve missed the buzz of families arriving on a frosty December evening, the sound of laughter echoing through the auditorium, and the joy of seeing young audiences swept away by a great story.
Beauty and The Beast is a big-hearted story, full of fun and festive magic, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
