Review

Writer: Tim Etchells Director: Tim Etchells and Hester Chillingworth Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Being an adult is pretty rubbish; there are responsibilities, bills and moral conundrums, there are global crises we cannot solve and domestic expectations that seem endless. Wasn’t life much easier when we were children… not according to the 17 performers that Tim Etchells has gathered together for the ...

Book: Harvey Fierstein Music and Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper Director: Jerry Mitchell Reviewer: Dominic Corr Even for those unfamiliar with the original cinematic release, there’s been an immense buzz surrounding the Kinky Boots musical. It doesn’t take much to get involved though, as the production itself has a tongue in cheek attitude with the unique aspects. In particular, yes, they are in ...

Writer: Alan McHugh Director: Thom Sutherland Reviewer: Dan English With a dramatic start, Dartford’s pantomime offering this year, Aladdin, tries to put punters in the festive mood with this visually stunning production. The Orchard Theatre’s seasonal selection, directed by Thom Sutherland, sees Aladdin (Alexis Gerred) attempt to escape the clutches of his nemesis Abanazar (Marti Pellow), all while trying to ...

Writer: Alan McHugh Director: Guy Unsworth Reviewer: Jay Nuttall It’s that time of year again (oh yes it is) when Qdos Entertainment and The Opera House in Manchester pull out all of the stops to produce one of the biggest pantomimes in the country. This year Cinderella gets a distinct Weatherfield twist as two recent stars of Corrie swap the ...

Writer and Director: Paul Hendy Musical Director: Phil Hornsey Choreographer: Sarah Langley Reviewer: Janet Jepson Peter Pan is something of a tradition in Christmas shows at Sheffield Theatres, and has graced the stages of either the Lyceum or the Crucible four times since the beginning of the 1980s. Flying back through the years to 2010, 2000, 1992 and 1982, various ...

Writer: Andrew Pollard Director: Joyce Branagh Musical Director: Rebekah Hughes Assistant Director: Rachel Gee Designer: Mark Walters at Glitter Pantomimes Reviewer: Ron Simpson Aladdin follows the always successful formula of the Lawrence Batley Theatre – and indeed several other theatres in the area: an essentially traditional approach, though with regional variation, a talented and hard-working ensemble of maybe seven or ...

Writer: Alan McHugh, with additional material by Billy Pearce Musical Director: James McCullagh Choreographer: Stillie Dee Director: Ed Curtis Reviewer: Sue Collier Bradford Alhambra’s 2018 pantomime is that of Aladdin, set in Peking. As the son of Widow Twanky, a lowly washerwoman, Aladdin falls in love with Princess Jasmine. But there is evil afoot from the wicked Abanazar. Can Aladdin ...

Writer & Director: Jamie Smith Reviewer: Alice Fowler Christmas in Guildford only properly begins with The Twelve Days of Christmas, as performed by the Yvonne Arnaud panto: an annual ritual of mayhem and misrule in which custard pies are thrown, knickers hurled and foam and water sprayed in all directions. This year, under the direction of Jamie Smith, things seem ...