“An evening of festive fun that combines theatrical flair with heartwarming music, though it might leave traditional panto purists craving a touch more of the subtle cheeky irreverence”
When someone mentions “dinner and a show,” you rarely imagine enjoying both simultaneously, but the Royal Court Theatre offers just that as part of its offer for The Scouse Red Riding Hood. The experience begins with a delicious, generously portioned meal served as the sounds of Christmas songs and lively chatter fill the air. There’s something uniquely delightful about having dessert delivered straight to your table during the interval — it’s an indulgence that perfectly complements the festive atmosphere.
As expected of a panto, the storyline written by Kevin Fearon and directed by Howard Gray is delightfully chaotic, veering into absurd territory with every twist. Blink, and you might find yourself scratching your head, wondering why Red (Lydia Rosa Morales Scully) and Blue (Adam McCoy) are on the moon or how Grandma (Lindzi Germain) and Bob the Builder (Liam Tobin) have ended up dressed in leather after a Viagra-fuelled escapade. But that’s all part of the charm — embracing the madness is half the fun.
Guiding the hilarity were Cash and Carry, played by Andrew Schofield and Keddy Sutton. Their antics were a highlight, with impeccable comic timing, an array of accents, and a dizzying number of costume changes. Individually strong, they shone even brighter as a duo, keeping the energy high and the audience laughing.
A standout feature was Ellie Light’s revolving set, a marvel of design that was both stunning and cleverly utilised to stage the show’s action-packed sequences. The band also played an integral role, elevating the performance with sound effects, seamless musical interludes, and exceptional accompaniment to the cast’s songs. Vocally, the ensemble was flawless, with harmonies that seamlessly enhanced the powerful lead vocalist. A particular highlight was Chantel Cole’s rendition of Whitney Houston’s One Moment in Time, which delivered a goosebump-inducing moment that visibly moved the audience.
However, the show missed some of the cheeky innuendos and double entendres often slipped in for the adults in traditional pantos. Without the presence of children to bounce off, it took until after the interval — and perhaps a few drinks — for the audience to warm up to the participatory spirit. While there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, some jokes fell flat without enthusiastic audience interaction, and the decision to ignore audience heckles towards the end diluted the connection between cast and crowd.
Still, the production redeemed itself with a lively soundtrack packed with sing-along moments, including an audience karaoke session with lyrics displayed on stage. It’s an evening of festive fun that combines theatrical flair with heartwarming music, though it might leave traditional panto purists craving a touch more of the subtle cheeky irreverence.
The Scouse Red Riding Hood can be caught at the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool until January the 18th.
Brilliant funny must watch we laughed in fact nearly pussed meself 🤣
The cast were brilliant as usual but they probably could tell the script wasn’t as funny as past pantos. Long sequences without humour
with not too many popular songs made the show tediously boring with a crazy storyline that easily disappointed. My family agreed it fell short of previous pantos but well done everyone anyway.