Tag: pantomine

REVIEW: Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

A classic story, with a hilarious twist, leave your kids at home for this one!

This year North East Adult Panto is back with their production of Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens. The show is an extremely unique take on the classic story and had me crying with laughter the whole way through. It goes without saying that this is an over 18s event so be prepared for a performance that is truly rotten to the core! 

Throughout the whole performance, all of the actors appeared comfortable with one another on stage, bouncing off each other’s energy and the audience’s reactions. There were a few minor line slips, which is expected with a panto, and in my opinion made the show even funnier. The show was accompanied by some eye-catching backdrops on a screen at the back of the stage, setting the mood for each scene, bringing the whole piece together. 

The show opened with a rendition of Ex-Wives, from Six: The Musical, which introduced the seven queens. As each one appeared on stage, it was clear that the majority of the audience were familiar with the cast by their reaction but especially with Tiny, played by Tomara Thomas and Bitchy played by Michael Marouli who both competed in series 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We were then introduced to Snow White, beautifully portrayed by Amelia Cavagan, Snow’s best friend Puddles and the hilariously naughty David Potts, winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2024, playing the role of Dirty David, the Huntsman. We then met Prince Albert, who performed his version of Dancing Through Life from Wicked, introducing his charming and witty character. Another special mention goes to Deborah Taylor-Smith (stepping in for the 2016 Queen of the Jungle, Scarlett Moffatt, as the Evil Queen) who closed act 1 with some incredible vocals, singing Rise Like A Phoenix. 

In Act 2, the majority of the songs were performed by the Queens, including Celebration, for Snow Whites 18th birthday. Aside from all of the singing, we met an Amazon Delivery Driver in hot pants and a hi-vis , who was clearly an audience favourite based on their reaction every time he was on stage. The show ended with a classic panto song; If I was not in pantomime which was performed by the seven Drag Queens and Dirty David, which was a perfect ending to this crazy performance. 

Overall, I think this is a really funny show. It stuck to the basic Snow White narrative fairly closely, whilst adding and changing scenes to keep the audience interested. If I had to have one criticism, it would be that I would have preferred a seated show, as the stalls were standing, but that may have just been the venue and not the production’s choice. 

FEATURE: Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens

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I recently attended the media day for the North East Adult Pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens, and to say the least, it didn’t disappoint. 

Throughout my time there, the company performed an extract from the show, and a musical number; Celebration. They were only 4 rehearsals in at the time, so were reading off of scripts, but it was clear that the show was going to be an incredible show. I also spent time with the cast asking questions about the show and here were some of the responses: 

David Potts (Winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2024) – Dirty David the Huntsman – described his character as ‘very sassy and a bit of a baddie’, and explained that he had always played a good character so he was enjoying ‘a bit of a bad bitch for once’. I asked him how he had found the rehearsal process so far, as there were only 4 rehearsals in at the time, and he said ‘ It has been so much fun, we’ve all been screaming, we’ve all been laughing. It’s all just coming together so nicely already, it’s brilliant.’ 

I also asked every cast member to sum up the show in one word. It was so interesting to see what everyone said: 

-spicy 

-naughty 

-slay 

-filthy 

-disgusting 

-vile 

-saucy 

-camp 

-fab 

-bonkers 

-heartfelt 

Monday 6th January, 8pm – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham  

Tuesday 7th January, 8pm – The Clapham Grand, London 

Wednesday 8th January, 8pm – Tramshed, Cardiff 

Thursday 9th January, 8pm – Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow 

Friday 10th January, 8pm – Leeds Beckett Students’ Union, Leeds 

Saturday 11th January, 8pm – O2 Ritz, Manchester  

Sunday 12th January, 8pm – Wolfrun Halls, Wolverhampton 

For full details on the show visit www.neadultpanto.com. Suitable for ages 16+. 

REVIEW: Little Red Robin Hood

Published on by nebularis85Leave a comment

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I steal from the greedy to give to the needy!
A cleverly fun and energetic performance all round!

Happy Sad productions present Little Red Robin Hood at St Augustines United Church, Edinburgh. Written by Amber Docherty and Roza Stevenson, the story explores the lives of Goldilocks Hood and Red Hood or Little Red Robin Hood as she prefers to be known as she steals from the greedy to give to the needy! Each girl was raised by one set of a famous trio – Red Hood by the three little pigs known as the Swine sisters and Goldilocks by the three bears. Separated at birth under tragic circumstances Red and Goldilocks do not meet until much later in their lives. Determined to create a sisterly bond they both look for ways to change each others’ lives however not always for the better.  

This was a fun filled performance with just the right level of joy and energy. Fionn Cameron as Wee Willie Winky does a great job of warming up the audience and keeping the engagement going throughout. With little nuances and audience interactions Cameron makes for a great narrator and best friend to the leading lady Little Red Robin Hood. Vocals by both leading ladies are excellent. Maggie Goodhall and Cosette Bolt blend well with each other and their harmonies are on point. They match each others energy and balance well as a team. 

The Swine sisters (James Phillips, Calum Philp and James Sharp) maintain a great level of silliness and slap stick aptly interwoven through their scenes. They deliver all their one liners with fast paced energy required for a snappy fun filled show. The three bears (played by Amber Docherty and Iona Wood) are cleverly casted as gangsters working for the Sheriff Wolf played by Marc Robertson. With the baby bear represented by a puppet (puppeteered by Docherty) gives more additional comical moments during their interactions. Robertson brings the right amount of panto baddie for young audiences striking the right chord which leads to great audience engagement during his moments on stage. 

A minimalist set which at times lacked a sense of location and the level of pomp expected from a traditional pantomime set was missing, however it did not take away from the narrative. The casts energy moved the action along well and director Roza Stevenson makes use of a challenging space to the best it could be. They managed to still communicate the desired effect in each scene and during each transition.

Ellis Allan’s lighting design used shadows at the start for the narration and premise which was effective and comical with potential to be used more often. Maybe some relation to the Christmas season would have been a nice addition to the performance however, I feel the cast of Happy Sad productions did a great job in presenting the great moments expected of a traditional pantomime with well timed and cleverly chosen songs to accompany them. The audio unfortunately sometimes did overbear some of the casts solos fortunately they still coped well and it did not detract from the energy and flow of the performance. 

Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

REVIEW: The Little Mermaid

Published on by roisinlystLeave a comment

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A brilliantly professional, energetic and entertaining pantomime: the perfect show to bring your kids to at Christmas.

What a show – pantomimes don’t get any better than this. With a gag a minute and off-the-scale energy, this pantomime had the audience of all ages entertained and amazed from start to finish.

Loosely following the story of ‘The Little Mermaid’, the show focussed on a new character named Danny Crabstix (Danny Adams) and his calamitous nature as he struggled with losing the love of his life, Ariel, to Prince Eric. Walking in, the auditorium was transformed into the bottom of the ocean, with fluorescent fish decorating the walls rather than being confined to the stage. It was a classic panto set of rotating backdrops, with some impressive pieces to accompany. The lighting and special effects including smoke bubbles and pyrotechnics made it all the more magical, but I was most intrigued and impressed by the giant shark and seahorse chariot. They both were suspended in mid air, with the mechanics completely obscured to create a perfect illusion. A big hand to the prop and set team. 

Another stand-out feature, as is expected in panto, was the costumes: there were endless costume changes with each one more fantastic than the last. The evil Sea Witch’s costumes were particularly spectacular. Hats off to Chris Hayward who played the Witch brilliantly, and actually designed his costumes and wigs himself. 

The band, dancing and singing also were of a very high quality. Joe McElderry brought his fantastic voice, complete with some opera, and played the butt of the joke throughout with good humour. Well-known songs were adapted for the show, one of the best being an extra comedic version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. Slapstick comedy, mess and improv were not in short supply, however it also felt more sophisticated with the audience direction being more natural than in many pantomimes. The company made each ‘error’ so slick that they seemed truly accidental. 

The show was written, directed and produced by Michael Harrison, and he brought his vision to life brilliantly. Danny Adams, Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Joe McElderry were just some of the cast who made this show so good, but Danny was a stand-out performer with buckets of energy, and never missing an opportunity to make a joke. I think every child in the audience must have loved him. 

The playfulness and genuine enjoyment of the actors doing their jobs was a joy to experience: the perfect Christmas night out to bring children to – just wear your raincoat if you’re sitting near the front!

Get ready to rock: Liverpool Everyman’s Rock ‘n’ Roll panto brings a hair-raising twist to Rapunzel

Published on by Tabitha JamesLeave a comment

The festive season is swinging into full gear at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre, where the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is back, bigger and brighter than ever. This year, it’s time to “let your hair down” as Rapunzel takes center stage from now until 18 January 2025.

What’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, Anyway?

Forget the old-school panto formula. The Everyman’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is a riotous blend of music, comedy, and outrageous fun where the cast not only sings and dances but also plays the instruments live. It’s a joyous tradition and this year’s Rapunzel promises all the sparkle, silliness, and sass you could hope for during the holidays.

Meet the Cast and Creative Crew

The star-studded ensemble features a mix of familiar faces and exciting new talent. Adam Keast, a perennial favorite, is back as the Fairy Fixer-Upper (and Script Consultant), wings and all! Villainy is in good hands (or bad, depending on your perspective) with Zoe West as Danny Rough, while Rebecca Levy doubles as Laurie and the show’s Choreographer.

There’s also a nod to Everyman’s 60th birthday celebrations with the return of Michael Starke—yes, Sinbad from Brookside!—as Dame Debbie Updo, a role sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Joining the chaos are Emma Bispham (The Big I Am) as Goop and Hairy McFairy, and Tomi Ogbaro (Alice in Wonderland) as Trevor. The dashing Ben Boskovic stars as Prince Timotei, while Ai Kumar debuts as the titular Rapunzel. With a talented company including understudies Alice Merivale and returning favorite Adam Scott Pringle, it’s a dream team ready to bring Jude Christian’s playful script to life.

The Magic Behind the Curtain

The powerhouse creative team is just as dazzling. Francesca Goodridge, known for her work at Theatr Clwyd, directs this year’s extravaganza. Musical wizard Jamie Noar, awarded Best Musical Director at the 2022 UK Pantomime Awards, returns to ensure the tunes are as show-stopping as ever.

Add in Janet Bird’s stunning set and costume design, Gillian Tan’s atmospheric lighting, and a top-notch sound design team led by Ian Davies and Rob Newman, and you’ve got a show ready to rock the Everyman stage.

Why You Can’t Miss It

Incoming Creative Director Nathan Powell sums it up best:

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll panto is iconic in this city and captures the essence of the Everyman, re-imagining brilliant stories for new generations, celebrating and nurturing talent, and ensuring everyone is invited to the party. The team have brought together the most incredible cast and company, I can’t wait for the building to be filled with joy and music, as we welcome our audiences for all the sparkle and silliness of the season.” 

Whether it’s your first Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto or your fiftieth, Rapunzel at the Everyman promises an unforgettable night filled with laughter, music, and a touch of magic. Gather your friends, grab your tickets, and get ready to boogie down Hope Street.

🎟 Tickets are available now! Visit the Everyman Theatre website for more details and to secure your seats. Don’t miss your chance to join Liverpool’s favorite festive tradition.

REVIEW: Napoleon: Un Petit Pantomime

Published on by Megan LewisLeave a comment

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Baguette yourself down to Jermyn Street Theatre for a real Bonaparty. 

Tis the season for pantos, and all through London the classics are taking to the stages, from Cinderella to Dick Wittington. This winter Jermyn Street Theatre in partnership with Charles Court Opera have set themselves up to stand out from the crowd with a new hilarious production: Napoleon: Un Petit Pantomime. Written by John Savournin, Artistic Director of the CCO, and co-directed by Savournin and Benji Sperring, this show ticks all the pantomime boxes. 

Jermyn Street Theatre is a lovely, intimate space, with an L shaped seating bank it is the perfect environment for an interactive show, and what is more interactive than a panto? Lucy Fowler makes the most of the (admittedly rather small) space, with a fantastic, colourful set. Her genius design incorporates all kinds of nods to the themes of the show – from classical portraits and swords mounted to the wall, to maps stretching across the floor and the back wall of the stage. Openings dotted all over the back wall allow for fun little pop-up moments throughout the production. Equally magnificent are the costumes, also designed by Fowler, garish bright garments which are appropriately flamboyant and silly. 

The show opens with a funny musical number featuring Napoleon and some baguette-wielding French troops. After some speedy changes we are transported to London to meet King George III, his daughter, Georgina (in place of George IV) and the Duke of Wellington. Fed up of being silenced and disregarded by the men, and determined to make a difference, Georgina disguises herself as a male soldier and joins her father and the Duke on a mission to find the Black Prince’s Ruby, hidden in a vault in a public toilet near the Strand. All they need to succeed is the severed hand of Nelson, which Napoleon just so happens to have in his pocket. Napoleon, meanwhile, has enlisted the help of the ghost of Marie Atoinette, and together they attempt to trick the british trio, hoping to outwit them and beat them to the ruby. But who will win?

The ensemble is strong across the board, each of them have fantastic stage presence, and equal amount of stage time. They juggle puppetry, choreography, baguette-stage-combat, audience interaction, and of course marvellous musical numbers. Amy J Payne has a versatile voice, reaching high operatic notes in one song, and switching up to a pop belt in another. As Georgina, Payne is a real heroine, making the men look ever more (suitably) ridiculous. Elliot Broadfoot oozes pantomime energy, working the audience (despite a few too many call and response moments) into fits of laughter. A perfect match for Elliot, Rosie Strobel is eye-catching as Marie Antoinette, with a powerful voice and stage presence. Matthew Kellett is a wonderful villain as Napoleon, not to mention his evil laugh which is on point for the role. Jennie Jacobs, the Duke of Wellington, a traditional Principal Boy role, is fantastic, with a brilliant voice and energy.

The script is chock-full of puns, and though some fall flat, it’s lovely to see that the cast seem to be enjoying themselves just as much as the audience, and their energy is infectious. The rhyming couplets keep the script snappy, and wittily rewritten pop-classics get the audience almost wanting to sing along (especially a particularly impressive Abba parody). David Eaton not only composed the lyrics and music, but also takes to the stage as musical director and plays the keys, opposite fellow musician, guitarist Alex Menaker. 

Napoleon: Un Petit Pantomime runs until 5th January at Jermyn Street Theatre. Though it’s not necessarily Christmassy per se, it will make for a hilarious night out with friends.