Snow White – Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

Writers: Ian Adams and Tam Ryan

Director: David Janson

The Grand has certainly pulled out all the stops for this year’s panto. It’s been entirely produced in-house and it benefits from the single-minded vision of Grand Artistic Director Adrian Jackson – who also does a turn as musical director on the show. Designer David Shields has produced sumptuous sets and costumes and the whole is a feast for the eyes. And ears, as the entire cast has strong singing voices. We even have an ‘ice rink’ and skating routines directed by Olympian Robin Cousins. Before the show, producer Karl Steele remarked that they were looking for ‘musical theatre meets panto’ and that’s certainly the case, with high production values in all areas and staged musical numbers. All the parts are there – but is the whole greater than their sum? Emphatically, yes.

While establishing the scene and story might take a little while before it really gets going, when it does it’s a high-octane ride. The good fairy, Elementa, embodies all things natural – she’s good while not being syrupy sweet. She’s played by Kelle Bryan who has an impressive soulful belt. Revelling in her wickedness is Niki Colwell Evans’ Queen Dragonella – supremely hissable and a similarly superb singer. Evie Pickerill’s Snow White is a delight, the perfect sweet ingenue, while Pickerell’s CBeebies colleague, Gyasi Sheppy plays a straight bat as Prince William of Wombourne (cue the inevitable ‘willy’ jokes …)

At the centre of any panto, of course, is the relationship between the dame and the fool – Muddles (this year as panto favourite Tam Ryan tells us). Ian Adams brings us Nanny Nolly, as fine a dame as you’re likely to encounter, while Ryan works the audience superbly with some cracking physical comedy and a terrific, pure singing voice – we could happily hear more of that. Adams and Ryan are also the writers of the show and the script, together with David Janson’s direction, ensures that the the time positively whizzes past – there’s no filler in this show. Of especial interest is the Queen’s Magic Mirror, transformed from the usual slightly sarcy character to MIRI, an Artificial Intelligence assistant with a slightly unnerving Max Headroom-style countenance albeit with a much smoother delivery. MIRI is an understated flash of brilliance – including his occasional ‘I didn’t quite catch that’ and other frustratingly inapposite responses.

In many ways, though, the stars of the show are the ensemble. While many pantos have reduced their ensembles or used community groups, this professional ensemble dances energetically in several styles, with sequences of balletic grace, street sass, ‘ice skating’ (in inline skates) and even a tap routine with Nanny Nolly. In addition, they operate the puppets that comprise the Peaky Miners who toil in the Queen’s diamond mines (imagine a less sweary Avenue Q), with each miner having a distinct personality and accent of their own. During the segments with the miners, each ensemble member gets a moment in the spotlight as they demonstrate fine singing and comedic skills themselves.

The Grand surely has a hit on its hands: lavish and colourful and a joy to watch, it’s perfect for all the family.

Runs until 7 January 2023