Mayflower Theatre announces stars for 2025 pantomime
Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre has announced that Alexandra Burke and Dr Ranj will lead the cast of Mayflower Theatre’s 2025/2026 pantomime as Captain Hook and The Magical Merman, alongside comedian and ventriloquist Max Fulham who will play Smee in this year’s high-flying pantomime, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.
Climb aboard the Jolly Roger with Captain Hook and Peter Pan as they battle on the high seas, joined by a crew of mischievous pirates and a very hungry, ever-watchful crocodile!
With amazing special effects, stunning sets and beautiful costumes direct from The London Palladium, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan will take your whole family on a magical trip to Neverland like never before! The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan runs from Saturday 13 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
Alexandra Burke, who will star as Captain Hook, is truly one of the UK’s most distinguishable powerhouse voices, having sold over 5 million records. Her no. 1 chart-toppers include Bad Boys, Start Without You and Hallelujah. Her double platinum debut album Overcome has sold over 850,000 copies in the UK alone.
Alexandra has established herself as one of the UK’s most sought-after West End leading ladies having starred in The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Chess, Chicago and Michael Harrison’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium.
The multi-platinum recording artist and actress first rose to fame 15 years ago, winning the fifth series of The X Factor, while duetting with Beyoncé. Alexandra received a BIFA nomination for her debut movie role in Pretty Red Dress and she has recently finished filming for the brand-new crime-drama series Curfew, which is out now on Paramount+
Alexandra’s Mayflower Theatre panto appearance follows her successful panto season last Christmas at New Wimbledon Theatre. Alexandra Burke made her pantomime debut in 2021 at Manchester Opera House and then performed in 2022 in the London Palladium Pantomime.
Dr Ranj will play The Magical Merman for the first time, following panto roles such as Spirit of the Bells (Birmingham Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Nottingham), Man in the Mirror (Churchill Theatre Bromley), and The Royal Physician (Bradford Alhambra).
Alongside his work as a practicing doctor working in the NHS, Dr Ranj appears on BBC’s Morning Live, is a columnist and writer, and proved his needle skills in the 2020 Christmas Special of The Great British Sewing Bee.
He has appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, fronted ITV1’s Dr Ranj: On Call, Save Money: Good Health, Save Money: Lose Weight and his new series, Extreme Food Phobics. Ranj is currently on tour with &Juliet, where he performed at Mayflower Theatre in November 2024.
Max Fulham returns to the role of Smee after playing the role last Christmas in Milton Keynes.
Max is a comedian and ventriloquist, who in addition to gaining popularity on both TV and in theatre, has become a social media sensation where he has amassed over 2 million likes on TikTok.
Brining a fresh and contemporary twist to a classic art, Max has wowed audiences with his one man show, entertaining thousands of people in theatres across the UK and internationally.
Highlights include appearing in The Good Old Days at Leeds City Varieties and performing on the Blackpool Opera House stage as part of the world-famous Blackpool Magic Convention.
Max has also had the unique pleasure of headlining at the prestigious Venthaven Ventriloquist Convention in the USA. With TV appearances including ITV’s Saturday night show Game of Talents, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable on Dave and the revival of the classic Crackerjack!, Max’s comedic talents are in high demand. He is also a regular on the stand-up comedy circuit.
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan is staged by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, led by Michael Harrison and the team behind recent Mayflower Theatre Christmas successes including last year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
Michael Harrison said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Alexandra Burke and Dr Ranj will be headlining Mayflower Theatre’s panto this Christmas.
Alexandra is a phenomenal talent with an outstanding voice which will blow the roof off Mayflower Theatre, and children and adults alike will love the charm of Dr Ranj.
Combined with the comedic talents of Max, along with stunning costumes and sets from The London Palladium, I know what a brilliant time the Southampton audiences will have this Christmas.”
Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Chief Executive said, “We cannot wait to welcome Alexandra Burke, Dr Ranj and Max Fulham to our stage this year in The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.
With the perfect mixture of Alexandra’s sensational voice, Dr Ranj’s charisma and rapport with audiences of all ages and Max’s comedy and ventriloquism, we know that The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan is going to be the perfect high flying pantomime.”
For three weeks only, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan will bring all the laughter, spectacle, special effects and glittering festive magic audiences have come to expect each year from Mayflower Theatre’s spectacular Christmas panto.
So be part of the panto magic – hook your tickets today!
Tickets for The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan (Saturday 13 December 2025 - Sunday 4 January 2026) are on sale from Mayflower Theatre Box Office tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk
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