Rob Kempson, Artistic Director of the Capitol Theatre Port Hope, has announced casting for this year’s annual holiday panto, an original retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
When Red leaves home with a basket of treats for her Granny, all she has to do is stick to the path and avoid talking to strangers…but there’s a groovy beat in the darkest part of the woods, and every young girl is up for adventure! When she crosses paths with a bad-ass Wolf, Red’s journey takes a turn that she never expected.
Says Kempson: “Our annual panto tradition brings our whole community together, whether you’re looking for something naughty or something to share with your family.
This year, with an internationally-celebrated writer and director, it’s sure to tickle your funny bone and get you singing along.”
RED!… A Big Bad Wolf Panto is written by Rebecca Northan (writer of 2023’s hit production, Jack: A Beanstalk Panto), with music supervision and arrangements by Jeff Newberry. It will be directed by Aurora Browne (Baroness Von Sketch), with music director Scott Pietrangelo and choreographer MJ Shaw. A signature of the Capitol panto, scheduled performances include both family-friendly and “naughty” adult-oriented versions of the show.
Red! A Big Bad Wolf Panto features an all-star cast including: Zoë O’Connor as Red, and Paul Bates as Wolf, with Gabi Epstein, Nicky Nasrallah, Colin Asuncion, Alex Furber, Malinda Carroll, and Griffin Hewitt, with musician Justin Han.
Shares director Aurora Browne: “I am delighted to be working with Capitol Theatre to dig into a very old, very dark story adapted by the wonderful Rebecca Northan. We are cooking up an evening of naughty laughs with incredible, talented performers – all the better to thrill the audience with, my dears!”
The creative team includes Adam Campbell (sound design), Joe Pagnan (set design), Joyce Padua (costume design), and Michelle Ramsay (lighting design).
Single tickets for Red!…A Big Bad Wolf Panto are on sale now: Visit Capitoltheatre.com/red/ for more details.
HOLIDAYS AT THE CAPITOL
November 20 to December 31, 2026
In addition to the panto, Holidays at the Capitol includes the 30th Annual Festival of Lights and Trees. Since its inception in 1997, this annual fundraising initiative has been a community favourite, becoming a yearly tradition for guests of all ages, while also raising essential operating funds for the Capitol Theatre. Visitors can enjoy a winter wonderland of holiday wreaths and Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and community organisations, and enter to win the decorations through the theatre’s popular yearly raffle.
A series of festive concerts will also take place at the Capitol this winter, including The Good Lovelies: Christmas 2026 on December 20 at 7:30 p.m., and Tim & Tina: A Country and Rock Extravaganza on December 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Learn more: https://capitoltheatre.com/holidays-at-the-capitol/
COMING SOON
2027 Season Announcement
October 8, 7:30 p.m.
Free with registration, join the Capitol Theatre team and special guests and be the first to learn about next year’s season, and to access exclusive day-of deals and early-bird subscriptions.
Learn more: https://capitoltheatre.com/events/2027-season-announcement-2026-10-08-730-pm/
I’m Every Woman: The Whitney Houston Songbook
October 23-26, 2026 (five performances)
The final original concert of the 2026 season is the world premiere of I’m Every Woman: The Whitney Houston Songbook written and performed by Taylor Lovelace, developed through the Capitol’s Creators’ Unit, the home for New Play Development at the Capitol since 2023.
Learn more: https://capitoltheatre.com/events/im-every-woman-the-whitney-houston-songbook-2026
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
