Beauty and the Beast – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Writer and Director: Paul Hendy

The Marlowe Theatre Pantomime maintains its tradition of being the best way to start the Christmas season with yet another superb festive offering with Beauty and the Beast.

In its twentieth year, the partnership between Evolution Productions and Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre continues to go from strength to strength, with Beauty and the Beast being a dazzling delight from start to finish.

Eastenders alumnus Maisie Smith shines as Belle, proving a triple threat as a performer by singing, acting and dancing with aplomb. Pantomimes often hinge on how much their stars are willing to put into the production, and it is clear that Smith is having a genuinely enjoyable experience in this role. This is also a more uniquely modern take on the story, not just focusing on the stereotypical helplessness of Belle, with Smith’s fierce take on Beyonce’s ‘Run The World (Girls)’ landing brilliantly in the first half.

Phil Gallagher, Mister Maker, returns to the Marlowe pantomime, this time as Belle’s brother the amusing named Phillipe Fillop. Gallagher thrives in the physical and slapstick comedy that dominates the performance, bouncing well off pantomime dame Ben Roddy as their pair reunite for yet another festive show. Gallagher’s energetic performance shines and his character is used well to drive the production’s humour forward, particularly following more tender moments between Belle and the Beast.

Returning for yet another stint as the Marlowe’s dame, Ben Roddy continues to deliver in this iconic role. In his 16th year at the Marlowe Theatre, Roddy is slick yet again in this role, demonstrating a fantastic level of witty comedic timing to land every joke offered. Roddy also gets a chance to shine in the show’s jaw-dropping big stunt during Act 2, which continues the Marlowe’s tradition of pushing its boundaries with its Christmas shows, and this aerial stunt must be seen to be believed.

Joseph Hewlett, as the Beast, balances the power and presence of the Beast’s character with the right level of tenderness. The first half closes with a rendition of Dear Evan Hansen’s ‘You Will Be Found’, a brave choice not to finish on a big punchline but something tender and vulnerable, and Hewlett and the cast completely hit the right note with the moment to make this a must-see Christmas cracker.

Rounding off the lead cast are Richard David-Caine, as Danton, Tyler Collins as Bougie and Jocasta Almgill’s Cupid. David-Caine’s Danton, the overly muscled lothario character, is delightfully goofy. At the same time, Almgill, as Cupid, who doubles as the play’s narrator, brings the sparkle and West End showbiz grace to multiple routines. Collins, meanwhile, is superb as Bougie, the anthropomorphic candlestick, in this highly energetic and eye-catching performance.

Pantomimes at the Marlowe make you feel part of a large family, with the in-jokes about the local area and recurring gags such as the Marlowe Bench routine helping to make this feel each year like a pantomime just for Canterbury, rather than many of the ‘off the shelf’ productions nationwide. The head of the family, it seems, is the musical director Chris Wong celebrating his thirtieth year involved with pantomimes at the theatre, and who is given time to show off his musical talent but also, in a rare on-stage appearance, his acting skills which is richly deserved.

Alongside the leads, the production is glued together by an exceptional ensemble cast who work tirelessly to quickly complete a range of challenging and demanding routines. The ensemble enhances the show’s glitz and glamour, aided by a beautiful array of set and costume designs.Designed by set designer Morgan Large and costume designers Ella Haines and Amy Chamberlain, this production sparkles throughout, with careful attention paid to each design to bring an abundance of characters and locations to life. This is a well-performed pantomime enhanced further by its stunning design.

What makes this pantomime, as with the others seen at this theatre, so special is the warmth and incredible effort that goes into each and every production. Beauty and the Beast is no exception to this, with an outstanding cast, beautifully crafted sets and costumes and a wealth of jokes for all ages.

The Marlowe has a winning formula with its pantomimes, and Beauty and the Beast is the perfect pantomime to kick off the festive period.

Runs until 12 January 2025