As 2019 starts, it is
time to look forward to the events and stories which will define the coming
year. Fairytale fans will have a lot of interesting things to look forward to
across 2019, and this article will highlight 20 of these. The list includes books,
films, TV series, video games and even streaming services. Some of the things listed
here are big Disney blockbusters, whilst others are smaller, more unusual
projects. However, all of these have the potential to inspire and entertain an
incredibly large audience over the next 52 weeks and beyond...
(Note: In order to simplify things, this article focuses primarily on British and American releases. Despite this, there will be numerous great fairytale projects created and released all over the world this year. I look forward to discussing them in future articles.)
(Note: In order to simplify things, this article focuses primarily on British and American releases. Despite this, there will be numerous great fairytale projects created and released all over the world this year. I look forward to discussing them in future articles.)
2019 Fairy Tales - A Preview
Kingdom Hearts III (Released Jan 25th)
Although Kingdom
Hearts III is one of the first major videogame releases of 2019, it is almost
certainly one of the most significant of the year. First started in 2002, the
Kingdom Hearts series is an unusual collaboration between Disney and the
Japanese video game icons Square Enix (best known for creating the Final
Fantasy games). Unsurprisingly, it has become one of the biggest videogame
franchises in the world. The story of Kingdom Hearts concerns a hero called
Sora, who teams up with Donald Duck and Goofy on an epic quest which takes them
into the worlds of numerous classic Disney films. Although this is listed as
the second direct sequel in the Kingdom Hearts canon, it is actually the
twelfth game in the series, due to the numerous spin offs, midquels and
prequels which have been released over the years. Although the mythology has
become incredibly convoluted, the core premise remains as appealing as ever -
we have all wanted to visit the worlds of various Disney films and interact
with our favourite characters. As the first direct sequel since 2006, Kingdom
Hearts III is taking advantage of the developments which have occurred at
Disney Animation over the last twelve years. The merger between Disney and
Pixar has allowed characters from Toy Story and Monsters Inc to join the
Kingdom Hearts universe, and the success of Tangled and Frozen means that our
protagonists will get to visit Arrendelle and Corona and interact with the
likes of Rapunzel and Queen Elsa. The graphics are more sophisticated, and
there are more special powers to keep us at our controllers, but the appeal of
Kingdom Hearts will always lie in the epic and unlimited adventures it offers
for Disney fans.
The Kid Who Would be King (Released Jan 25th in USA, February 15th in the UK)
Eight years after his
well-received directorial debut Attack the Block (which introduced audiences to
Jon Boyega and Jodie Whittaker) comedy screenwriter Joe Cornish will provide
another story about youths in a dull London suburb getting caught up in an
incredible fantasy adventure. Whilst Attack the Block was about an alien
invasion, The Kid Who Would Be King applies Cornish's formula to Arthurian
legend. Andy Serkis's son Louis Ashbourne Serkis plays a kid who discovers King Arthur's
sword in a building site and becomes leader of the fight against the dark wizard Morgana. Cinematic takes on King Arthur have rarely been critical or
commercial hits, but The Kid Who Would Be King seems like an entertaining
update of the classic English hero. The familiar elements of King Arthur's
story are present, but there are plenty of modern day touches (For instance,
Merlin disguises himself as a gangly teenager) and a lot of humour based on the
idea of ordinary schoolchildren following in the footsteps of classic fantasy
heroes. Originally intended to be released last summer, The Kid Who Would be
King has been moved to the end of January (rarely a good sign) but hopefully it
will be worth the wait.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Released March 5th)
Of all the YA books
released in 2018, none reflected the zeitgeist of the year as well as Tomi
Adeyemi's debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, which combined African
folklore, classic YA tropes, and a strong message about fighting racism. Set in
the fictitious African kingdom of Oshira, it told the story of the story of a
girl called Zelie who has to team up with princess Amari to fight a tyrannical
King and restore the magical powers which were stolen from her tribe. The hype
surrounding the novel was immense (rights for a movie adaptation were brought before it was even published) but it resoundingly lived up to expectations,
receiving widespread critical acclaim and consistently appearing on the New
York Times Bestsellers list throughout 2018 . In the light of this success, it
is no surprise to learn that a sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, is
being released in March. Picking up where the first story left off, it sees
Zelie and Amari trying to avert a civil war when their enemies take advantage
of the magic restored to Oshira. Children of Virtue and Vengeance is going to be
the second in a trilogy, and it looks like it will provide further for
development for Zelie, Amari and their world whilst laying the groundwork for
an epic finale.
American Gods - Season 2 (Starts March 10th)
It is a great time to
be a Neil Gaiman fan, with radio adaptations of his work becoming a Christmas
staple in the UK, and a TV adaptation of his fantasy epic Good Omens arriving
in 2019. However, fans of mythology will be most interested in the second season
of American Gods, the cult favourite cable series based on Gaiman's 2001 novel
of the same name. The first season aired on the cable channel Starz in 2017,
fascinating critics
and audiences with its depiction of the battle between classic mythological
gods and the "New Gods" who embody the key aspects of modern
technology and media. The two year wait for a second season has not
been an easy one. Show runners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green were
controversially fired after the first season ended, and their replacement Jesse
Alexander had his powers taken away, leaving the series without a proper show
runner. Throughout this chaos, there were numerous rewrites and reshoots, and
stars Gillian Anderson and Krstin Chentworth both dropped out. However, the
second season is ready to air, promising to retain the psychedelic tone of the
first season whilst moving closer to Gaiman's source material. Epic TV shows
such as this are often plagued by "second season syndrome", as the
struggle to follow up an impressive first season leads to an inferior second
one. Hopefully, American Gods will avoid this and cement its reputation as one
of the most interesting and unique American series of recent years.
Sherwood (Released
March 19th)
Like King Arthur,
Robin Hood is another iconic English hero who has lost credibility due to
numerous mediocre-to-bad adaptations of his story, including the critically
panned Robin Hood, which was one of the biggest flops of 2018. For her
new novel Sherwood, Meagan Spooner aims to freshen things up by shifting the
focus to Robin's love interest Maid Marian. When Robin Hood dies whilst
fighting in the Holy Land, Maid Marian is left alone and desperate in a
miserable and impoverished Nottingham. With Robin's enemies, the Sheriff of
Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne, being as wicked as ever, Marian takes matters
into her own hands. She finds her husband's cloak and weapons, and replaces him
as the saviour of the poor and downtrodden. With her growing line up of sci-fi
and fantasy books (including the Beauty and the Beast- inspired Hunted), Meagan
Spooner is becoming a rising star in the Young Adult genre, and Sherwood seems
like it will be another hit with the teenage (and predominantly female)
audiences who have made YA into such a profitable part of the literary
industry.
Beginning life as a
concept album created by the singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell, Hadestown has become a cult
favourite amongst musical fans in recent years. It had a long journey to Broadway
(including acclaimed productions at New York Theatre Workshop, Toronto's
Citadel Theatre and London's National Theatre) which is finally culminating in its
arrival at the prestigious Walter Kerr Theatre, which recently hosted the
record-breaking Springsteen on Broadway. Hadestown updates the Greek myth of Orpheus for the modern era, with Eurydice forced to go to Hadestown in
search of work, and Orpheus embarking on a doomed quest to get her back. The soundtrack is based on
Depression-era folk and jazz music and the story deals with numerous social and
environmental issues. We don't yet have confirmation that the National Theatre cast (with Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada as Orpheus and Eurydice, and Broadway
icons Andre de Shields and Patrick Page as Hermes and Hades respectively) are
going to return to reprise their roles on the Great White Way, but it is
reasonable to assume that they will. However, regardless of whether they return
or not, Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin will provide a powerful and
dramatic take on an iconic ancient tragedy. Chavkin was behind the acclaimed
but short-lived Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,
but hopefully this project will enjoy a far longer run. Whilst the 2017-18
season was a pretty weak one for musicals, the 2018-19 season will be a lot
more exciting and diverse, and Hadestown will be one of the primary favourites
to succeed at the Tony Awards in June.
Dumbo (Released March
29th)
Tim Burton's 2010
remake/sequel of Alice in Wonderland was certainly not his best work, but it
proved a phenomenal success, making over $1 billion worldwide and ensuring that
remakes would become the cornerstone of Disney's live-action division. Almost a
decade later, Burton is adaptation nother early Disney classic, Dumbo.
Whilst Disney's live-action remakes are often criticised for being too close to
the source material, Burton will make plenty of changes for Dumbo. After all,
The original film was just 65 minutes long, and featured a lot of padding and
dated material that is not suitable for 2018. This means that the Burton has to
radically expand the story in order to turn it into a 2 hour blockbuster. The
greatest change is shifting the focus from Dumbo to the human employees of the
circus, with Colin Farrell playing a father who comes across the titular
big-eared elephant and tries to help him learn how to fly. The supporting cast
includes the likes of Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton, but the CGI elephant
will remain the primary scene-stealer. Burton's reputation has been waning in recent
years, but Dumbo should provide the blend of whimsy and darkness which has made
him so successful.
The Princess and the Fangirl (Released April 2nd)
It is hard to do
something truly unique with a story as familiar as Cinderella, but Ashley
Poston managed this with her 2017 novel Geekerella. This updated the story popularised by Charles Perrault to fit the world of modern fan culture, with the Grand Ball being a
Sci-Fi convention and the Prince being a handsome young actor who is about to
play the lead in the Sci-Fi blockbuster Starfield. This spring, Poston is
returning to the Geekerella universe with The Princess and The Fangirl, centred
on a side character from the original novel. The Princess and the Fangirl takes
the ambitious actress Jessica Stone and makes her the protagonist in an
adventure inspired by Mark Twain's classic The Prince and The Pauper. Jessica
plays Princess Amara in the Starfield Franchaise, but wants to quit the role in
order to find classier projects. However, rumours that Princess Amara will be
killed off lead fangirl Imogen Lovelace (who looks remarkably like Jessica) to
start an online campaign to save the character. When the script to the new
Starfield movie is leaked, Imogen and Jessica have to switch places in order to
find the person responsible. In addition to providing a feminist twist on the
source material, The Princess and the Fangirl pays tribute to the legions of
fans obsessed with iconic Sci-Fi brands such as Star Wars and Star Trek. The
stars of these franchises have become the modern-day equivalent to royalty for
many, and the studios where they are filmed have the same awe-inspiring power
as royal castles. Like Geekerella, The Princess and the Fangirl will provide an
entertaining exploration of fan culture, demonstrating what happens when a
Fangirl fulfils her their fairytale dream and gets to meet the people whose
output has played such a major role in their lives.
Missing Link (Released April 12th)
The Stop-motion
studio Laika are one of the most exciting and innovative animation companies in
America, and it is always great to see them release a new movie. This year,
they are releasing Missing Link, a new take on the Bigfoot legend. The story
concerns a giant half-ape, half-human creature (voiced by Zach Galifanakis) who
teams up with two explorers (voiced by Hugh Jackman and Zoe Saldana) in order
to travel to the mythical city of Shangri-La and find the rest of his species.
Compared to the likes of Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link
seems like a rather conventional 'road trip' comedy, but the characters and
settings should be engaging enough to make the movie stand out. It goes without
saying that the stop-motion animation will be the highlight of Missing Link, as
Laika will provide a Jules Verne-style Victorian world even more ambitious than
anything they have created before - Far Eastern mountains, atmospheric American
forests and giant sailing ships are all being portrayed in a wonderfully
detailed and colourful fashion. Hours of effort have gone into even the
smallest details, as the studio have created new technology to allow characters
to breathe authentically. In a year where most of the major animated movies (including The Lego Movie 2, Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2) will be sequels, Missing Link is the sort of creative stand-alone film that
will really excite fans of the genre.
Charming (Released in
the UK in Spring 2019)
From the philandering
princes of Into the Woods to the outright villainous Prince Hans from Frozen, handsome
princes are rarely treated with anything other than contempt in modern
revisionist fairytale films. However, Charming represents an interesting
exception to the rule. It tells the story of a Prince who is affected with a
curse which makes him irresistible to every woman he meets. This naturally
comes with some increasingly unpleasant side effects, and Prince Phillipe has
to team up with a jewel thief to undo the spell before all love in the world is lost
forever. Charming has been awaiting a major release for a very long time
(Wilmer Valderrama and Demi Lovato, who voice the protagonists, were a couple
when they recorded their lines but have since split up), but it was finally
released in various European territories last year, and fledgling studio Blue Finch Films have acquired the rights to release it in the UK.
Producer John H
Williams helped bring Shrek to the big screen, but his 2007 animation Happily
N'Ever After was critically panned, and there is a real chance that Charming
could be a second consecutive fairytale-themed failure. That said, the premise
is certainly interesting and any film with the legendary John Cleese as a fairy
godmother will definitely be fun. At the very least, this will be a decent time
waster for children during the holiday.
Cinderella Liberator (Released May 7th)
As we become more
conscious about the messages that we send to young girls, fairytale retellings
are under pressure to set a positive example for them. One new book which will
inspire numerous girls in 2019 is Cinderella Liberator, written by the
prominent feminist commentator Rebecca Solnit. Needless to say, this Cinderella
is not going to wait for a prince to return her missing shoe, but will instead
be a tougher and more active character fighting for herself and those around
her. However, Cinderella Liberator will still stay true to the core idea of a
mistreated girl escaping her miserable and monotonous world. The book also
honours its roots through its use of silhouettes created by the legendary fairy
tale illustrator Arthur Rackham, and the contrast between classic illustrations
and modern messages is certainly intriguing. It will be fascinating to see an
academic like Solnit transfer to the world of children's literature, but it
allows her to promote her ideas and beliefs in a unique and entertaining manner.
Aladdin (Released May
24th)
Disney's live-action
remakes have tended to be adapted from more serious and old fashioned films,
but their take on Aladdin represents a different approach. Disney's 1992 hit,
based on the classic Arabian Nights tale about a street urchin who discovers a
powerful Genie and tries to win the heart of a Princess, took a more
action-packed and comedic approach than the likes of Cinderella and Beauty and
the Beast, and the live-action remake will need to emulate this in order to stand out. The project has attracted considerable scepticism, but it looks like
the most interesting of Disney's three live-action remakes this year. Sherlock Holmes
director Guy Ritchie will apply his brash, action-packed style to this
family-friendly adventure musical, but needs to provide a more sensitive
depiction of the fictitious Arabic kingdom of Agrabah, responding to criticism
which the original film has received for its heavily stereotypical depiction of
the widely misrepresented Middle East. The star of the show will undoubtedly be
Will Smith, playing the legendary Genie and returning to the smooth, energetic
and lively persona he has discarded in recent years. The rest of the cast
consists of various rising stars with a Middle Eastern or Indian background,
with Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine. The classic songs from
the original will return, but there will also be a couple of new ones from The
Greatest Showman composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The additional songs created for
Disney's live-action remakes tend not to upstage the originals, but if anyone
can break this convention, it's the duo behind "This is Me" and
"You Will Be Found". Aladdin will either be the best or the worst of
Disney's live-action projects, and we are all waiting to see whether it exceeds
expectations or lives down to the worst fears if Disney fans...
Wicked Fox (Released
June 25th)
Due to its focus on
fantasy and melodrama, the YA genre often draws on mythology and fairytales. A
lot of YA stories are based on familiar Western fairytales, but Katharine Cho's
Wicked Fox does something diferent, using Korean Folklore as its inspiration.
Wicked Fox tells the story of Gu Mihoung, a seemingly ordinary women who lives
in modern day Seoul with her mother. However, she is actually a Gumiho - a
mythological nine-tailed fox who has to eat the souls of men in order to
survive. Mihoung decides to use her deadly powers for good by becoming a
vigilante and feeding on the criminals who have evaded justice. However, things
get complicated when she befriends a young man and falls in love with him. Cho
has been writing since the age of nine, but this is the first book of hers to
actually be published. With an intriguing premise that combines several
familiar elements in a creative and exciting way, Wicked Fox marks Cho out as a
talent to watch.
The Launch of Disney+
(Late 2019)
With the rise of
Netflix and Amazon Prime, streaming is becoming an increasingly prominent part
of film and TV culture, so it is no surprise to find out that Disney will enter
this lucrative market with their new service Disney +. First announced in
August 2017, Disney + starts operating in the second half of 2019. Disney
films used to be a Netflix staple, but they are all being moved to . Disney +,
and all Disney movies released from now on will be released on this channel
after their cinematic runs conclude. Once it is complete, Disney + will provide
a major platform for a wide range of Disney films and TV series, including
older classics, more recent blockbusters, and productions from Disney-owned
brands such as Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. However, like Netflix
and Amazon Prime, Disney + will also provide plenty of original films and TV
shows created especially for the platform (There are rumours that these
projects will include a live-action remake of The Sword In The Stone and a new
version of Don Quixote.) Netflix productions like Orange Is The
New Black, Stranger Things and Roma have set an incredibly high bar for
streaming services, but Disney definitely have the talent and resources to
provide some big hits of their own. Aimed primarily at families and cheaper
than most of its rivals, Disney + will definitely be another major
money-spinner for Disney.
Moulin Rogue arrives on Broadway (Previews Begin June 28th, Opening Night July 25th)
Baz Luhrman's 2001
film Moulin Rogue was a creative and unusual musical about a star-crossed
romance in a fantasy version of 1890's Paris. For the first musical of the
2019-20 season, the Hirschfield Theatre will be hosting a new stage adaptation
of this Oscar-nominated hit. The story and setting are mostly the same, but the
Jukebox soundtrack of the original film (including "Your Song" and
"Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend") is being updated to include hits
for the last 17 years such as "Rolling in the Deep" and "Royals". Les Miserables
star Aaron Tveit plays the protagonist Christian (portrayed by Ewan McGregor in
the film), whilst Karen Olivo will play his ill-fated love interest Satine.
Director Alex Timbers has gained a reputation for being one of the most
innovative directors on Broadway. The eye popping detailed and immersive sets
were the highlight of the production at the Boston tryouts last year, and they
will probably be upgraded for Broadway to be even more incredible. On paper,
Lurhman's output should be perfect for Broadway, but his fast-paced and chaotic
filming style is not easy to translate to the more static medium of the stage.
Although an adaptation of Strictly Ballroom did not do very well on the West
End this year, this version of Moulin Rogue looks set to prove that Luhrman's
decadent approach can be successfully transferred to the stage.
The Lion King
(Released July 19th)
The last and biggest
of Disney's live-action remakes is The Lion King. In the 25 years since the
original was released, it has become one of Disney's signature films, and
remaking it for 2019 is a pretty difficult challenge. Jon Favereau, whose 2016
adaptation of The Jungle Book is probably the most acclaimed of Disney's
live-action remakes, is transferring its motion capture approach to the
Savannahs of Africa, sparking plenty of debate over whether a film without
human characters can be considered live-action. The inhabitants of Pride Rock
will be brought to life by "photorealistic" visuals and an all-star
cast, with Donald Glover voicing Simba, and Chiwetel Ejofor voicing the
diabolical Scar. However, the two biggest attractions will be Beyoncé, voicing
Simba's love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the
original film and is returning to reprise his role as the King of the Jungle.
It will be incredibly difficult to improve on the near-perfect original, but
this version of The Lion King should still be an impressive and entertaining summer spectacle on its own
terms.
The D23 2019 (August
23rd - 25th)
Since it was started
in 2009, the Biennial D23 convention (established by Disney's Official fan club
D23) allows Disney fans to head to California for three days of exciting
activities themed around the output of the iconic studio. The attractions
include cosplay competitions, concerts, film screenings and the opportunity to
meet the people behind their favourite films. However, the undisputed highlight
of any D23 convention is the opportunity to learn more about the Disney films
which will arrive in cinemas over the next few years. With all three
live-action remakes and Toy Story 4 already released by August, the focus of
D23 will probably be Frozen 2. "Let It Go" was first performed at the
2013 D23 - will D23 audiences get to hear an equally impressive song? We can
also expect news on forthcoming live-action and animated projects, including
release dates, casting information and even exclusive footage.
Mary Poppins arrives on the West End (Previews and Opening Night in Autumn 2019)
The recent sequel
Mary Poppins Returns has probably not been as much of a hit as many
anticipated, but it has undoubtedly succeeded in its primary role of
revitalising interest in Disney's 1964 classic Mary Poppins. In order to
capitalise on this, Disney Theatrical's 2004 adaptation of Mary Poppins will
return to the West End in Autumn 2019. It will replace Aladdin at the Prince
Edward theatre, opening shortly after that musical closes at the end of August.
This is the first time that Disney have provided a major revival of one of
their own musicals, and it will be interesting to see whether the new version
can emulate or surpass the success of the original production, which ran for
four years at the same theatre. The stage version of Mary Poppins, a collaboration
between Disney Theatrical and British mega-producer Cameron Mackintosh,
combines elements from the Disney film and the P.L Travers novels which
inspired it. Zizi Strallen will play Mary Poppins (having previously played the
iconic nanny in a well-received touring adaptation of the production in 2015
and 2016), whilst Charlie Stemp will be her chimney sweep sidekick Bert. The
numerous classic songs from the original film, such as "A Spoonful of
Sugar", "Feed the Birds" and "Step in Time" will
return, as will popular songs from the original West End production such as
"Practically Perfect" and "Anything Can Happen". The
production also contains some incredible special effects (from bottomless bags
to actors walking on the ceiling), but the most important aspect will
undoubtedly be the timeless story of how Mary Poppins brings joy to the lives
of the Banks family. This new West End production will keep a lot of the
elements which made the original such a success whilst providing enough new
material to justify the decision to give it such a high-profile revival.
P.S - fans of Mary
Poppins may also be interested in The Life I Lead, a new play which will be
performed at North London's Park Theatre in March. It tells the story of David
Tomlinson (the prolific British actor best known for playing Mr. Banks in the
original Mary Poppins) and will reveal how Tomlinson's relationship with his
father inspired his portrayal of the Banks family patriarch. TV comedian Miles
Jupp will play Tomlinson in a production which will blend both drama and comedy
to highlight his unique role in cinema history. The Life I Lead is not the
first work to examine the role unreliable fathers played in the making of Mary
Poppins, but seems like an intriguing counterpoint to the 'Disneyfied' approach
of Saving Mr Banks. It is only going to be on for 12 nights (March 18th - March
30th), so you have to book quickly in order to see it...
Frozen 2 (Released
22nd November)
Out of all the
fairytale related projects mentioned in this article, there are none which will
attract as much scrutiny and hype as Frozen 2. It is almost six years since the
original Frozen became an unexpected phenomenon, and it remains incredibly
popular with audiences of all ages. Jennifer Lee, director and writer of the
original film, is returning for Frozen 2, and this film represents her greatest
test since she was appointed Disney's new Chief Creative Officer in June. Co-director Chris Buck
and songwriting duo Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez will also be back,
and Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel will be reprising their roles as royal
sisters Anna and Elsa. The original Frozen is both one of the most loved and
most hated films in the Disney canon, and the team will have to put in extra
effort to keep the fans happy whilst winning over detractors. Information on
Frozen 2 is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, but there will be new
characters (two of whom are likely to be voiced by Sterling K. Brown and Evan
Rachel Wood) and around eight new songs. Lee has confirmed that the film will
take Anna and Elsa far from their kingdom of Arendelle, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez has implied that some of the mythology added for the recent Broadway adaptation
could make its way into the sequel. Following up a film as iconic as Frozen is
an incredibly hard task, but of Frozen 2 builds on Anna and Elsa's relationship
whilst providing them with a compelling new story and more catchy songs, it
could equal or even surpass its predecessor.
The 2019 Pantomimes
(Opening November/December)
Given that the Christmas
2018 pantomimes are still on, it seems a bit too early to get excited about the
ones which will open at the end of 2019. However, many theatres have already
announced their 2019 pantomimes, as these are a highlight of the calendar for
many major suburban and regional theatres. As usual, most of the major
pantomime venues are adapting the small handful of classic fairy tales which
define the traditional pantomime repertoire. The Lyric Hammersmith will be
adapting Cinderella, whilst the Theatre Royal Stratford will be providing a
version of Dick Whittington. We can expect the cast and crew to liven up these
familiar tales with slapstick, topical humour and even a few smutty innuendos.
In addition, some
theatres have already announced the stars of their annual pantomimes. Craig
Revel Horwood will play the Wicked Queen in Manchester's version of Snow White,
whilst Shane Ritchie will play Robin Hood in Bristol, having played him in
Milton Keynes over Christmas. We can expect more popular British celebrities, ranging
from panto mainstays to genre newcomers, to be confirmed as headliners soon. There is
still a lot more to learn about the pantomimes which will define Christmas 2019, but most of the information about them will be revealed by the end of April,
so you won't have to wait too long to find out which pantomimes are worth
booking a early ticket for...
