Ayr Gaiety announce 2025 panto cast | Aladdie casting

Lisa in the theatre
Sep 25
3 min read

Updated: Oct 21

The full cast and creatives have been announced for The Ayr Gaiety’s 2025 panto, Aladdie. Familiar faces and local favourites will be returning along with some Gaiety newcomers. Find the full details below.

Aladdie: Ayr Gaiety panto 2025 cast and creatives

Performing at Ayr Gaiety from 29th November 2025 – 4th January 2026.

Ayr Gaiety Theatre is delighted to announce the cast and creatives of their 2025 pantomime, Aladdie – a Scottish spin on the traditional Aladdin story - featuring a host of both new talent and returning favourites.

Following three years of 5-star reviewed productions, and a CATS award win for Outstanding Pantomime for 2024’s Mother Goose, The Gaiety is welcoming back writer Fraser Boyle, joined for the first time by director Tom Cooper, to put their original spin on a beloved family favourite.

Aladdie. Ayr Gaiety panto 2025. Writer Fraser Boyle and Director Tom Cooper. Photo credit: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan — Aladdie writer Fraser Boyle & director Tom Cooper. Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Fraser Boyle will also be taking to the stage in the role of panto dame again. He’ll be joined by a stellar cast of Scottish performers with a diverse range of credits, including returning favourites Gavin Jon Wright, Hannah Howie, Lewis Kerr and Ciara Flynn, newcomers Mia Musakambeva, Ava Anderson, Christopher McFadden, and Carley Duncan, and Martin Murphy, who last graced the Gaiety stage in 2013 in the title role of Aladdin!

Three performances will also be fully BSL integrated, with interpreters Yvonne Strain and Carole Hunter joining in the action with the cast. Find the full accessible performances list here

Aladdie is written by Fraser Boyle and directed by Tom Cooper. The creative team further comprises music by John Hodgson, Choreography by Sarah Wilkie, Costume and prop design by Alisa Kalyanova and costume supervision by Ailsa Munro. Set by Mark Walters & Glitter Pantomimes, Lighting Design by Robbie Butler, Sound Design by Fraser Milroy.

Aladdie. Ayr Gaiety panto 2025. Hannah Howie, Gavin Jon Wright and Fraser Boyle. Photo credit: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan — Aladdie readthrough. Hannah Howie, Gavin Jon Wright & Fraser Boyle. Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

What is Aladdie about? The Ayr Gaiety Theatre panto 2025

Less the far east, more the very, very far east of Ayrshire, the ancient McMinger dynasty rule the land from their seat of power in old New Cumnock town.

Aladdie’s adventures catapult him into deep trouble he can’t get out of alone – thank goodness then for family – and an Ayrshire family at that!

Will Aladdie ever win the hand of Princess Destiny? Will Abanazar rule the land as the greatest magician the world has ever known? And will Widow Twankey ever manage to scrub the royal smalls to Empress Oonagh McMinger’s most exacting standards?

Magic, mayhem, mischief and even Maybole abound in this re-telling of an old tale – this isn’t Aladdin, it’s Aladdie!

Fraser Boyle, Writer said of Aladdie:

“It’s a big adventure, Aladdie – I'm excited about the pace and speed that we inject into it. There’s something in the finale that’s going to take a lot of rehearsal, so I’m most looking forward to this musical number. It doesn’t have singing in it, there’s probably a thousand ways it could go wrong, so I’m looking forward to that. I won’t say anything else other than...nuns!”

Tom Cooper, Director said:

“Aladdie is a fresh Scottish take on the traditional Aladdin story. We’ve assembled a really exciting cast to work with, and Fraser’s script is beautiful – and genuinely hilarious. It’s a real celebration of silliness and there’s a warmth and generosity to it which I really love as well.”