FORMER EASTENDERS STAR RITA SIMONS MAKES WISHES COME TRUE AT THE BECK THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS!

Actress, model and singer Rita Simons is best-known for her role in EastEnders as the late Roxy Mitchell, and her work on ITV’s London’s Burning, Dream Team and Mile High for Sky 1, will lead the cast in this year’s spectacular family pantomime, Aladdin.

 As Roxy Mitchell, Rita became a mainstay of the iconic Albert Square for over a decade, involved in numerous high-profile storylines, including a tenure as landlady of the iconic Queen Vic pub, her tempestuous family relationships and her complicated romantic life. In her time on the Square Rita received noteworthy accolades including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television, Inside Soap and Digital Spy Soap Awards and was nominated in numerous other categories. On Christmas Day 2016 Roxy’s chilling on-screen departure was seen by over nine million television viewers, causing a national outcry at the death of one of soap’s best-loved characters.

In addition to her work on television, Rita was one fifth of the pop group Girls@Play, who released the single Airhead and a cover of Mel and Kim’s Respectable and supported Hear’Say and Steps on their UK tours. She has also supported Blue star Duncan James and starred in pantomime as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at the Marlow Theatre, Canterbury and the Alban Arena respectively. Later this year she will star as Paulette in the new UK tour of Legally Blonde. Rita will play Scheherazade, the magical Spirit of the Ring held captive by the evil Abanazar who will help the handsome hero Aladdin win fame, fortune and the hand of the beautiful Princess.  

Produced by One From the Heart, Aladdin features all of the ingredients of the very best Beck Theatre pantomime; a lamp-full of laughter, music, mayhem, a wish-granting genie and plenty of audience participation.

One From the Heart Executive Producer Daryl Back said: “I’m thrilled that Rita will be headlining this year’s fantastic Hayes pantomime. We all know and love her as an actress but I’m delighted we’ll be giving her a chance to show off her brilliant singing voice and comic timing in a production that promises to be fun for all the family.”