Currently, Sario Solomon is starring in the York Theatre Royal’s pantomime Aladdin, playing the titular role until Sunday 5th January, and Sario is working with a cast including Evie Pickerill as Spirit of the Ring. Sario has recently finished playing Sonny in the UK & Ireland Tour of Grease, having covered the role last year when Grease was running at the Dominion Theatre in the West End. In Pacific Overtures at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Sario played Thief & French Admiral, and he was in the Ensemble of George Takei’s Allegiance at the Charing Cross Theatre. Further theatre work for Sario has seen him play Joey in Friendsical, cover Lurch and Lucas in The Addams Family 2022 Tour, and he will be working with The Addams Family’s choreographer Alistair David next year for a concert production of If/Then at the Savoy Theatre. Having auditioned for Take That’s Let It Shine, Sario won the show with his band Five To Five, with them joining Take That’s musical The Band for their tour and West End run, and Sario reprised his role for the German production. We caught up with Sario about starring as Aladdin in York Theatre Royal’s pantomime, playing Sonny in the UK & Ireland Tour of Grease and being a band member in the Take That musical The Band.

What are you looking forward to for starring in Aladdin at York Theatre Royal, which will be running until Sunday 5th January?

I’m looking forward to being on the flying carpet. The carpet was created by the incredible Burnt Toast SFX and it’s really quite special, especially with its full 360 turns!

How does it feel to be returning to the role of Aladdin, having played him in Telford previously, and what is the character like to play?

I love playing the character Aladdin as it’s rare I get to portray characters of Asian descent, as the opportunities don’t arise much in the musical theatre world. Being half Japanese, this means a lot to me.

What can audiences expect from your portrayal of Aladdin?

My portrayal of Aladdin is quite a bit like me – silly, cheeky, stupid, fun and full of beans!

How was it meeting this year’s cast for the first time, which includes Evie Pickerill as Spirit of the Ring?

We have a really tight, close and lovely cast this year, which is very important for those 10:30am matinee shows! Special mention to Evie, who is wonderful and is incredible at her portrayal of the Spirit of the Ring. The children are going to love her like they do on CBeebies.

What do you enjoy most about pantomimes and how is it interacting with families during the show?

I love seeing all the children in the audience and their reactions throughout and making them smile and cheer, especially during the carpet ride.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Aladdin at York Theatre Royal this Christmas?

People should come see this version as it’s a fresh, new, modern adaptation with all the laughs, dance numbers and costumes people expect from a traditional panto!

You played Sonny in the recent UK & Ireland Tour of Grease, how was your time touring in the production and how was it playing Sonny?

Grease was such a wonderful show and a great opportunity that I am forever grateful for, but I may be a little happy for my knees that there is no Born To Hand Jive in this panto…

What was it like covering the role in the West End at the Dominion Theatre in 2023, and what was the musical like to perform in?

I learnt a lot from covering the role of Sonny in London. George Michaelides was an incredible Sonny and taught me a lot to prepare for the role on tour. Being thrown on mid-way through a show is exciting and thrilling, but just as nerve-racking.

Can you tell us about your time playing Thief and French Admiral in Pacific Overtures at the Menier Chocolate Factory and being in the Ensemble of George Takei’s Allegiance at Charing Cross Theatre?

My dream was always to be in a Stephen Sondheim show and to get to do it in London and in one of his incredibly rare shows Pacific Overtures was the cherry on top. The contrast of the roles I had to play (peasant farmer/incredibly camp French Admiral) was a joy. Sharing the stage with the incredible George Takei for Allegiance was a true honour. I also understudied the wonderful Telly Leung, who played Aladdin on Broadway a few years back!

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Joey in Friendsical and what was the production like to be part of?

To be completely honest, I was never really a crazy Friends fan, so I had to research a lot before playing the role of Joey in Friendsical. It was a fun little comedy for all the fans of the TV show.

What was it like touring with The Addams Family in 2022 and covering Lurch and Lucas?

I would say The Addams Family the Musical was one of my favourite shows that I’ve ever been a part of. It has incredibly well-written songs and a hilarious script. I’ll be working with the unbelievably talented choreographer Alistair David, who choreographed The Addams Family, next year in a wonderful concert production of If/Then at the Savoy Theatre.

What are some of your favourite memories from being a band member in The Band in the West End and on tour, and how was it reprising your role in the German production?

The Band musical will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first professional job as an adult and really helped me get to where I am today. I learnt a lot from the people on that job and it shaped who I am as a performer today. Performing all around the country, in the West End and Germany as a 19 year old was an unbelievable experience.

How did you find the experience auditioning for Let It Shine and how did you feel winning the show with your band Five To Five?

It was a crazy time and an incredibly terrifying yet rewarding experience. Having Gary Barlow as a mentor throughout the show was a real honour and I learnt a lot from him and the other Take That boys as they were producers of the TV show/musical.

Where does your love of performing come from and how did you get into it?

I’m unsure really. My mother doesn’t have a musical bone in her body (she wouldn’t mind me saying) and my father has a business selling firewood for a living in the North London area. I was a very energetic, restless child so dancing and singing was probably the best career choice for me.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch?

My favourite theatre shows:


• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
• Betty Blue Eyes
• Zanna, Don’t!
• One Man, Two Guvnors

How do you like to spend your free time?

I’m an avid follower of rugby, but mainly Japanese rugby. On my day off you’ll catch me rock pooling, catching crabs and other sea critters. If I wasn’t a performer, I would most likely have followed a career as a marine biologist.

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