Sleeping Beauty – Wexford Pantomime Society, January 2026

Our 2026 production of Sleeping Beauty opened with great celebration as King Stefan and Queen Clara hosted a grand party to mark the birth of their daughter, Princess Aurora. Guiding us through the story was the ever-entertaining court jester, Joxer, who kept the audience laughing while ensuring we never lost our way in this magical tale. Among the honoured guests were King Hubert and his son, Prince Philip, with an agreement made that the two young royals would one day be married.

Joy quickly turned to danger when the uninvited Evil Fairy Maleficent stormed the celebrations. In a fit of rage, she cursed the baby Aurora, declaring that on her eighteenth birthday she would prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Thankfully, the good fairies softened the curse: instead of death, Aurora would fall into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by love’s first kiss.

To protect her, Aurora was hidden deep within the Great Forest, raised by her three Fairy Godmothers disguised as her aunts, and known as Briar Rose. Alongside them was Joxer, providing both protection and plenty of comic mischief.

Years later, Briar Rose blossomed into a kind and beautiful young woman. While wandering in the forest, she met a young man, Prince Philip, though neither knew the other’s true identity. The pair instantly fell in love, but their happiness was cut short when royal duty intervened. Meanwhile, Maleficent’s bumbling spies, Vivian and Victor, discovered Aurora’s whereabouts and summoned their mistress to enact her revenge.

Disguised as an old woman, Maleficent tricked Aurora into pricking her finger on a spinning wheel (after poisoning poor Snow White too!), sending her into a deep sleep. Capturing the Fairy Godmothers’ magic and aided by her troll army, including Poppy (Yes. The cute pink troll from the Trolls movie. Slight misunderstanding on Vivian and Victor’s part!), Maleficent abducted Aurora to her hidden lair.

In Act Two, Prince Philip uncovered the truth and, joined by Joxer, the Fairies, King Hubert and Nurse Nelly Numb-Bum, set out on a daring rescue mission. Guided by a magical mirror, along with the help of Bradley (the big bad wolf who as it turns out, wasn’t so big and bad after all), and plenty of audience participation, the heroes embarked on an unforgettable quest to save their Sleeping Beauty.

A spectacular blend of magic, laughter, romance and adventure, Sleeping Beauty 2026 was truly a Panto to remember!

Photography by Paula Malone Carty

Production Team

Writer & Director - Thomas O’Leary

Choreographers - Suzanne O’Leary & Sorcha O’Connor

Musical Director - Yvette White

Chorus Mistress - Freya Murphy

Stage Manager - Emma Kehoe

Lighting Designer - Mark Redmond