Scott Gallagher plays his first pantomime Dame, James-Royden Lyley takes the title role and Yna Montarde is Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, which runs at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton from 5 December 2026 - 3 January 2027.
Scott Gallagher will play Widow Twankey in Aladdin at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton this Christmas, in his first pantomime Dame role. James-Royden Lyley takes the title role and Yna Montarde plays Princess Jasmine. The three were announced on Wednesday by the theatre and UK Productions.
Gallagher is a breakfast radio presenter in Blackpool. He began performing in pantomime at the age of four and spent more than a decade working for Butlin's, Pontins and Haven before returning to the professional circuit. Over the past 15 years he has appeared at venues including Blackpool's Opera House. This is his Floral Pavilion debut, and his first engagement as a Dame.
"Alrriiiiiight New Brighton! I am so excited to be with everyone at the Floral Pavilion this Christmas," Gallagher said. "I'm even more excited this year as, after 14 years working across the country as a panto comic, this will be my first time venturing out and earning my Dame wings - and I couldn't think of a better place to do it."
Lyley's West End credits are 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre and 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. He has also played Mungojerrie in Cats, Eddie in Mamma Mia! in Cyprus and on its international tour, and the title role in Peter Pan in Worthing.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be playing Aladdin and spending Christmas at the Floral Pavilion," Lyley said. "New Brighton is such a brilliant place, and I can't wait to share the magic, laughter and adventure of this wonderful show with local audiences and families throughout the festive season."
Martin Dodd of UK Productions said Lyley "brings exactly the energy, charm and warmth we want at the heart of this magical adventure".
Montarde graduated from The Urdang Academy in 2025 and went into the UK and international tour of SIX as Anne Boleyn.
"I am extremely thrilled to be heading over to New Brighton to join the cast of Aladdin," she said. "There is nothing that truly beats the magic and joy of panto and I can't wait to bring loads of festive spirit - and maybe a little craziness - to the Floral Pavilion."
They join James Mackenzie as Abanazar and Sean Jones as Wishee Washee, both named when the theatre announced its autumn and winter programme. Mackenzie played Raven in the CBBC series Raven, which ran for 15 series, and appears in the CBeebies series Molly and Mack. Jones, best known as Mickey in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, returns to the Floral Pavilion for a seventh year.
Pauline Campbell, venue manager at the Floral Pavilion, called the production "a high-quality, traditional family pantomime on a spectacular scale, with fabulous sets and costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy, plenty of magic and a brilliant soundtrack". Further casting is to be announced.
Aladdin runs at the 814-seat Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, from Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. The press performance is on Wednesday 9 December 2026 at 6.30pm. Tickets start at £15.
