Amy Lyons from Worcester Rep Company’s Sleeping Beauty Nominated in UK Pantomime Awards 2026
12 March 2026
Worcester Theatres are delighted to announce that Amy Lyons has been nominated for Best Newcomer to Industry at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026, following her professional debut as Princess Beauty in the Worcester Rep Company’s production of Sleeping Beauty.
Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association is a charity that celebrates excellence through its annual Pantomime Awards, while also providing workshops, talks and events, the organisation champions pantomime as an important British art form. Each year, the UK Pantomime Awards team visit and judge hundreds of pantomimes across the UK in categories including Best Principal Lead, Best Script, Best Lighting, and more.
Amy’s professional debut has been recognised by leading pantomime experts in the industry, and the nomination also highlights the strength of the in-house Worcester Rep Company production of Sleeping Beauty, standing alongside much larger theatre productions in the UK.
Sarah-Jane Morgan, Chief Executive & Artistic Director at Worcester Theatres and Executive Producer of Sleeping Beauty said, “I am absolutely over the moon for Amy to have received this nomination. She was a dream to work with during our production of Sleeping Beauty and clearly her hard work, talent and dedication to the role have paid off for her. The recognition is also a great moment for Worcester Theatres and my whole team who work tirelessly to ensure a brilliant pantomime for Worcester each year. The Swan Theatre’s reputation for providing a high-quality professional, family-friendly pantomime has really developed over the past five years, and I could not be prouder of everyone who has worked so hard to make the pantomime the success that it is today - this nomination is just the icing on the cake!”
Worcester Theatres caught up with Amy Lyons before her Best Newcomer to Industry nomination to discuss her experience during the Sleeping Beauty pantomime production.
Q&A with Amy Lyons:
Tell us about yourself!
I’m Amy Lyons and I’m originally from Liverpool. I grew up with a passion for performing, taking part in local dance and musical theatre classes from a young age. I also performed as part of the Liverpool Empire’s Youth Theatre for several years and have recently returned to the company as a creative assistant and practitioner! I graduated from Leeds Conservatoire in 2025, where I studied Musical Theatre.
How did you find playing Princess Beauty?
I absolutely adored playing Princess Beauty! Thanks to our brilliant director and writer Ian Good I got the opportunity to play a princess written with so much ambition, strength, depth, and joy. It was wonderful exploring a character who was fiercely loyal to those she cares about, tried to always see the best in people, and wasn’t afraid to be silly and goofy, three qualities I could definitely relate to and have carried with me since closing the show.
What was your favourite moment during the Sleeping Beauty production?
One of my favourite moments of the pantomime has to be our opening night performance, seeing an audience (in particular the many wonderful families and children) experiencing the story we’d worked so hard to create and tell for the first time was truly magical. There was such an energy of excitement in the theatre that night both on and off stage, which felt so special to experience.
Were there any memorable audience interactions?
My favourite audience reactions had to be during the iconic spinning wheel scene, especially during our school shows. We had students booing, shouting, and jumping up and down trying to stop Carabosse’s evil plan, which definitely made it difficult not to crack a smile in my inevitable sleep after Princess Beauty pricked her finger. However, some honourable mentions include the collective gasps during Derek the Dragon’s entrance each night, and the audience member who announced during the Royal Wedding that she thought Princess Beauty should have been marrying Fester the Jester instead!
As this was your professional debut how did you find the experience?
Making my professional debut as Princess Beauty definitely felt daunting at first, however our absolutely incredible cast, crew, and Sarah-Jane and the entire Swan team made it the dreamiest experience. I can’t thank each and every one of them enough for being so welcoming, generous, and supportive both on and off stage. Each member of the cast was so incredibly talented and creative, and I learnt so much from each and every one of them.
What did you think of Worcester?
Worcester was an absolutely beautiful city to have spent time in, especially over the festive period. Our schedule was absolutely jam-packed with shows, but we always found time as a cast to explore the city. My highlights were definitely the Victorian Christmas markets, the Christmas Tree Festival in Worcester Cathedral, and the Dice Box Café. The city holds such a special place in my heart and is full of so many amazing memories.
What’s next for you?
I’m not too sure exactly what’s next for me, but I’m excited to find out! I’m currently auditioning for some projects and hope to return to the Swan Theatre and Worcester Repertory Company soon!
Worcester Rep Company's 2026/2027 pantomime will be Robin Hood! From Sherwood Forest to Worcester Theatres, Robin Hood promises all the traditional mischief, mayhem, and heroic slapstick silliness to light up The Swan Theatre stage – with some surprises thrown in for good measure! Grab your seats and book now on our website!