Hackney Empire Sets Full MOTHER GOOSE Cast

Today Hackney Empire announces the full cast of its much-anticipated 2014 pantomime, the return of Mother Goose starring Clive Rowe. For the first time in six years the casting reunites some of Hackney's most-loved performers. Director Susie McKenna will this year take to the stage as evil sorceress Vanity, alongside last year's Puss in Boots Kat B, who will play Billy Goose. They join previously announced grande dame of pantomime Clive Rowe, reprising his Olivier Award-nominated title role and marking his 10th appearance in the show and Olivier Award-winning Sharon D Clarke, playing the good enchantress Charity.

The full cast includes Matt Dempsey (Prince Jack), Tony Timberlake (Baron Barmey) Darren Hart (Frightening Freda), Abigail Rosser (Princess Jill) and Alix Ross (Priscilla).

Set in the merry kingdom of Hackneytopia E8, Hackney Empire's production features a battle between two Enchantress Sisters, Charity (good, of course) and her evil sibling Vanity, for the soul of our heroine, Mother Goose. Will she be saved by Princess Priscilla, a goose who lays golden eggs?

The production will feature dazzling dance routines, colourful costumes and show-stopping songs, performed alongside a stunning live band. The production will run at Hackney Empire from 22 November 2014 to 4 January 2015.

Clive Rowe was nominated for the 2009 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for his role as Mother Goose at Hackney Empire. Rowe's extensive theatre credits include his Olivier Award-winning performance in Guys and Dolls (National Theatre), The Light Princess, Carousel (for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award), Fuente Ovejuna, Caroline or Change, The Villains Opera, Money, Candide, Peter Pan (all National Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (Chichester and Old Vic Theatre) and The Ladykillers (West End and UK Tour). He is well known for his role as 'Duke' in the BBC's The Story of Tracey Beaker. Other television credits include All the Small Things, Doctor Who, Dalziel & Pascoe, and The Harry Hill Show.

Sharon D Clarke won the 2014 Best Supporting Actress Olivier Award for her role as 'Odessa' in The Amen Corner (National Theatre) following previous Olivier nominations for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for both We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre). Other theatre credits include Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), Chicago (Adelphi Theatre) and Porgy and Bess (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre). Her return to Hackney marks her fourth appearance in the theatre's pantomime.

Mother Goose will be Susie McKenna's 16th Hackney pantomime. >From starting as principal boy in Nottingham Playhouse pantomimes, Susie is now Creative Director of Hackney Empire. Her directing credits include Blues In The Night (Hackney Empire, UK Tour 2015) A Midsummer Night's Madness (Hackney Empire, New York and Edinburgh Festival), La Varieté,, Sit and Shiver (assisting Steven Berkoff), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre, London) and Once on this Island (Hackney Empire, Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse). Susie has also worked as an actress for over 30 years. Her acting credits include Chicago, Cats, Ragtime and The Witches of Eastwick in the West End and national tours of Hair, The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Steven Edis returns once again as musical composer to create a magical mix of musical mash-ups, chart remixes and an original score. Steven has worked with the National Theatre, in the West End and on a variety of prestigious projects as composer, arranger and orchestrator. Credits include The Captain of Kopenick (National Theatre), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre), A Chorus of Disapproval, Flarepath and Birdsong for the West End. Steven brings his vast experience to create a musical score that rivals a West End musical.

Kat B returns to Hackney Empire as Billy Goose after starring in the title role of Puss in Boots in 2014. Previous credits include Dick Whittington, Cinderella, The Wiz, Mother Goose, A Christmas Carol, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Kat and Tameka Show. Kat is best known for his antics on MTV Base where he has presented numerous shows around the world. His film and television credits include Waterland and Street Wise (BBC) and The Richard Blackwood Show (Channel 4). Kat is also the Artistic Director of Real Deal Comedy Jam and a regular on the Jongleurs Circuit.

Matt Dempsey returns for his seventh Hackney pantomime to play Prince Jack. His West End theatre credits include Enron, Romeo & Juliet and The Witches of Eastwick. Film credits include Great Expectations, Dark Shadows, Gulliver's Travels, Dorian Gray, The Duchess, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd.

Tony Timberlake returns to the cast after appearing in 2013's Puss in Boots. His previous credits include the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, Into The Woods at the Donmar Warehouse, Singin' In The Rain at the National Theatre and the West End production of Hairspray.

Darren Hart returns to the Hackney stage after appearing in Puss in Boots, Dick Whittington and Anansi and the Magic Mirror. Darren Hart's other theatre credits include Cinderella, Clockwork and Red Riding Hood (all Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Winsome Pinnock Plays and Startstruck (both National Theatre Studio), That Fave (Soho Theatre), Henry IV - Parts 1 and 2 and His Dark Materials (both National Theatre).

Abigail Rosser joins the cast as Princess Jill having previously been in the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire. Previous theatre credits include Funny Girl at Chichester Festival Theatre and Seasons Greetings at the Union Theatre.

Alix Ross has recently starred in Roy Williams' Advice for the Young at Heart at Greenwich Theatre and The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner at York Theatre Royal. Television work includes Nightshift and Stepping Up.

Tickets are on sale now.

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