Tag Archives: Jamie Brook

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 ...

Writer and Director: Jamie Smith               Reviewer:  Bill Avenell These may be somewhat disturbing and unsettling times in world affairs but it is reassuring to know that ‘some things don’t change’, and if the phrase applies anywhere then it certainly applies to this year’s Christmas offering of Dick Whittington at the Yvonne Arnaud. Once again the Guildford theatre applies a ...

Writer: Jamie Smith Director: Gerry Tebbutt Musical Director: Bryan Hodgson Choreographer: Jill Francis Reviewer: Bill Avenell One of the joys of going to Guildford for our annual dose of ‘Oh no he isn’t’ and ‘Look behind you’ is that we know exactly what you are going to get and don’t have to worry about whether you have seen the relevant ...

Writer: Jamie Smith Director: Gerry Tebbutt Reviewer: Bill Avenell The programme entry for Jamie Brook, who once again injects life and fun into Yvonne Arnaud’s panto (this year as ‘Silly Billy’), mentions his love of the genre and his help in creating ‘a central hub of panto performers and fans alike’. Well, he makes a good start in Guildford. A ...

Writers: Jamie Smith, Nick White Director: Gerry Tebbutt Reviewer: Bill Avenell If you discover a tried and tested formula that works well, why change it? That is The Yvonne Arnaud’s motto when it comes to panto and Gerry Tebbutt’s annual visit to Guildford produces another successful evening that appeals to the whole range of his audience from grannies to toddlers(including ...

Writers: Gerry Tebbutt and Victoria Jukes Director: Gerry Tebbutt Reviewer: Bill Avenell It must be difficult for pantomime producers on a limited budget to decide how much to spend on the stars and how much on the production. With all due respect to Bonny Langford, who incidentally makes a very good fist of Fairy Snow, a more glamorous style of ...