Jocasta Almgill is playing the pantomime villain in Sleeping Beauty at York Theatre Royal, taking on the role of Carabosse alongside Aoife Kenny as Princess Aurora, Christian Mortimer as Prince Michael and Jennie Dale as Fairy Moonbeam, and Sleeping Beauty opened yesterday and runs until Sunday 4th January 2026. Recently, Jocasta was touring Japan as Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, having previously played the character on the 2024 UK Tour and at Sadler’s Wells, and she played Rizzo in Grease at the Dominion Theatre. As part of the original cast of & Juliet, Jocasta played Lady Capulet/Nell at Manchester Opera House and the West End transfer at Shaftesbury Theatre, and understudied the roles of Angelique and Anne, and whilst the musical was temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, she performed as Joanne in RENT at Hope Mill Theatre, and amongst her extensive theatre career, she played Anita in the Royal Exchange production of West Side Story. Speaking with Jocasta, she answered our questions about taking on the role of the pantomime villain playing Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at York Theatre Royal, her time as Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and being in the original cast of & Juliet.

You are currently playing Carabosse in York Theatre Royal’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty, how familiar are you with Sleeping Beauty as a pantomime and how has it been reading the script?

I know the story of Sleeping Beauty well. It’s been really fun going through the script with everyone.

What is Carabosse like to play and how is it taking on the role of a pantomime villain?

So fun! She’s my first villain, so it’s been great.

What has it been like meeting the rest of the cast – which includes Aoife Kenny as Princess Aurora, Christian Mortimer as Prince Michael and Jennie Dale as Fairy Moonbeam – and have you worked with any of them previously?

No, I’ve not worked with any of them before, but we get on really well, so I think we are going to have a great panto season.

What are pantomimes like to rehearse for and how different do you find them to standard musical theatre productions?

So different! You have much less time in a panto rehearsal, so you have to work really fast.

Is there anything you are most looking forward to for performing in Sleeping Beauty over the festive season?

I am so lucky, I have two big numbers in the show, so I’m really excited for them!

How do you think it will be interacting with a pantomime audience, and why would you recommend booking tickets to see Sleeping Beauty, which is running at York Theatre Royal until Sunday 4th January 2026?

I interact a lot with the audience in Sleeping Beauty, which I really enjoy. You should definitely book tickets as the show is fun, joyful, silly and has great musical numbers.

You have just finished playing Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (having also played the character on the 2024 UK Tour and at Sadler’s Wells), what was the musical like to be part of and how was it taking the show on a tour around Japan?

It was amazing. Diana was a dream role so to play that part was incredible, and Japan was a really wonderful experience.

What originally drew you to A Chorus Line and how was it performing the choreography?

The story shines a light into what it’s like to be a performer, which is such a special thing to share on stage. The choreography is iconic! Getting to wear the gold costume and performing One was a pinch me moment.

How was it getting into character as Rizzo in Grease at the Dominion Theatre and what did you enjoy most about telling the story?

Rizzo was another dream role of mine and it was very special as it was my first leading lady role in the West End.

How did you find the experience being part of the original cast of & Juliet at Manchester Opera House and in the West End transfer at Shaftesbury Theatre as Lady Capulet/Nell and understudy Angelique and Anne, and how was it seeing the fan response to the musical?

The fan response to & Juliet was amazing. They were so supportive and lovely, and they really championed it.

Whilst & Juliet was temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, you could be seen as Joanne in RENT at Hope Mill Theatre, can you tell us about your time in the show?

I loved RENT and it was very special performing a show about a pandemic in a pandemic. It was proof that we need to support and love each other through hard times.

What was it like playing Anita in the 2019 Royal Exchange production of West Side Story?

Anita was dream role and getting to do the first version with new choreography felt special.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

Always, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Walking the dogs, eating good food and spending time with my partner.

What are you hoping 2026 brings for you?

Happiness, family time and adventure.

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