EXCLUSIVE : British television comedy queen Catherine Tate sashays across the room where rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty , the 10th annual feast of fun (and filth), are taking place. Performances begin at the historic London Palladium on Saturday through January 11.

Tate’s doing evil witchy things in her role as Carabosse, the wicked sister of King Julian, played by Julian Clary , a stalwart of the peculiarly British holiday variety show that’s full of gaiety, wit, singing, dancing that’s a centuries-old staple in theaters the length and breadth of the British isles held in this season we’re to be jolly in.

There’s tape in the rehearsal hall outlining where the Palladium stage will be. My seat is set dead center, close to the edge of that tape. I almost don’t catch what Tate says

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