The Pantoland Diaries: An Interview with Beauty and the Beast star Dave Bibby (Northampton)

Welcome to a new interview series called..The Pantoland Diaries, where over next coming months we chat to the stars of pantomimes playing across the country this panto season, next up we speak to Dave Bibby playing Phillipe Fillop - in Northampton's Royal & Derngate 2026/27 panto - Beauty and the Beast

Dave returns to the Northampton after appearing in Cinderella 2 years ago. Dave also has been seen pranking national treasures Ant and Dec on BGT, as well as having his own show - Baby Dinosaur.

In your own words, how would you describe Northampton's take on the pantomime Beauty and the Beast?

I would say it is a classic fairytale mixed with some hilarious Northampton panto surprises. On the one hand, you have the magic of the Beast’s castle and true love finding a way. On the other hand, you have Phil Mitchell wandering through a forest in France with Tracy Beaker hunting him down. It’s a tale as old as time!

How has the experience been performing with Evolution pantomimes?

I have worked with Evolution many times before and they do not shy away from putting on spectacular shows. The music is always amazing and this year is no different – I like that Evolution Productions have a ‘strictly bangers’ policy. And the choreography is incredible if you don’t focus on my dancing. But just the scale of it is amazing. Royal & Derngate is a proper theatre and we’ll have the effects, pyrotechnics and a little birdy tells me we may even have some flying. I’ve said too much.

Can you tell us about your first pantomime experience?

My first panto was Oxford Playhouse in the freezing winter of 2014. And guess what! It was Beauty & The Beast. I was not a theatre kid and didn’t see much panto as a child. But Blue Peter legend Peter Duncan saw me at Edinburgh Fringe and said I would make a good panto comic. Silly Peter. I had no idea of the history and traditions of panto – what is a ghost gag? A walkdown? A songsheet? Made no sense to me. But now 12 years later I think we can all agree I still have absolutely no idea what is going on.

What is your absolute favourite part about bringing panto to Northampton audiences?

Because Royal & Derngate put on the best musicals and plays in the country, both in house and direct from the West End, local audiences know their stuff. I would say they have big expectations so it’s amazing to challenge ourselves to see if we can take things further every year. I was here in Northampton 2 years ago in Cinderella and the audiences were so loud and so much fun, let’s see if we can raise our game again.

Pantomimes are often the start of someone's experience of theatre, how important is it in your opinion to keep the panto tradition alive?

Bro, no kid looks at an iPad the way they do a princess singing their favourite songs live onstage. In a world where entertainment is so readily available at our fingertips I think it’s great that families can switch them devices off and have real interactive experiences that will keep people coming back to the theatre for years. Up with panto! Put the influencers in prison! I’ve gone too far.

With the panto performance schedule being quite demanding with sometimes 2-3 shows a day, how do you keep yourself well (vocally and physically) throughout the busy performance schedule?

I have pretended for many years that I can’t sing. Between me and you I am a glorious singer. Like a young Sinatra. But nobody knows so when the rest of the cast are singing I am chilling in the wings. Please don’t tell. Also, Berocca.

Pantomimes always deliver on modern and current references including songs. Can you give us a hint or a taste on what this pantomime includes this year?

As a comedian I’ll ad lib and keep things fresh throughout the run. My eyes light up to heckles and improv opportunities. Plus, we are changing things every day in rehearsals. Literally a dance will go viral on TikTok one day and we’ll be rehearsing it in the next. And that is a big hint, Babydoll!

Can you share a favourite festive memory or tradition with us?

I am the youngest of three boys. We are now very much grown up and have children of our own. I absolutely love passing on all our little family traditions. I have such fond memories of me and my brothers waking up early to see if Father Christmas had been – particularly if he’d brought Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64. Now, as a dad, I realise how short those days are as a child enwrapped in the magic of Christmas. I’m just a big kid really but there’s nothing better than hearing my 2 boys waking up Christmas morning and whispering to each other in excitement. Gosh I’m getting emotional. Pass me a Baileys.

What makes Northampton’s Beauty and the Beast the ultimate festive treat this year?

Big songs, legendary baddies, spectacular choreography and a bloke in a dress. It is everything you want from a pantomime and all the things you didn’t know you wanted as well.

How would you describe the show in one sentence or 3 words?

It’s a classic tale of a girl who learns to love a man-beast with anger management issues, mostly because his furniture can sing.

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You can catch Beauty and the Beast at Northampton's Royal & Derngate Theatre from the 4th of December until 31st of December: https://royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/beauty-and-the-beast/