THE Gaiety's upcoming winter pantomime is set to make history when it takes to the stage later this month.

Bea Webster and Benedetta Zanetti both feature in the cast for Mother Goose - the first time two deaf performers will feature in a hearing-led pantomime in Scotland.

Both graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, they will deliver performances featuring a combination of BSL, Sign Supported English, and Visual Vernacular, while other cast members perform in spoken English.

The production is supported by Solar Bear - one of Scotland’s foremost inclusive theatre companies

Solar Bear works collaboratively with deaf and hearing actors, theatre makers, artists, and young people, promoting inclusion, and reaching out to those often excluded from the arts.

Following two years of five-star reviewed productions, writing team Ken Alexander and Fraser Boyle return to The Gaiety to put their original spin on a beloved family favourite.

Bea Webster will take on the role of Angel. They were nominated for Best Actor in the 2019 Stage Debut Awards for their performance in Mother Courage and Her Children.

Benedetta Zanetti will play Margherita. Actor, director and writer Benedetta is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Alongside Bea and Benedetta, Mother Goose will feature Fraser Boyle in the titular role as pantomime’s most famous dame.

There will also be a stellar cast of Scottish performers including returning favourites Gavin Jon Wright, Chiara Sparkes, Dani Heron, and Rachel Campbell; and newcomers Jamie McKillop, Gregor John Owen, Ciara Flynn, and Lewis Kerr.

Gaiety artistic director Vince Hope said: "The Gaiety is delighted to be fulfilling our ambition to have two deaf performers in Mother Goose, and we want this to be a genuinely positive experience for the actors and audiences.

"Last year we made a commitment to spend time researching, understanding, and planning for specific requirements that deaf performers might need for working in the panto environment.

"Having had this focus, working closely with Solar Bear and the actors themselves, with input and support from BSL consultants and translators, this feels like creatively we’ve taken yet another big leap forward with our panto."

Mother Goose will run at The Gaiety from Friday, November 22 until Saturday, January 4. 

Tickets are available at https://thegaiety.co.uk/events/mother-goose.