Review: Aladdin The Rock’n’Roll Panto at Leeds City Varieties

Thursday 4th December 2025 at Leeds City Varieties 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reviewer: Natalie Potter 

Take yourself to Aladdin, The Rock’n’ Roll panto at the City Varieties, and from the very moment you step through the door, you’re greeted with that unmistakable panto magic. It really is in the air… What’s so special about this rock ‘n’ roll panto, is the cast’s ability to flit between acting, singing, dancing as well as then playing a plethora of instruments. Talk about talent and no rest for the wicked! As usual, their pop covers hit the spot,  having the audience singing and clapping along. 

This production is full of hilarious twists, starting with the relocation from far flung Arabian nights to Kirkgate Market in Leeds; a proper crowd-pleaser of an update. Aladdin, or should I say A-Lad-In, is just a local lad who everyone roots for. 

Alvin/A-Lad-In (played by Harry Brown), has boundless energy and charming sincerity. Most impressively, Brown manages to stay in-role, even when taunted by the hilarious and familiar Dame (Simon Nock). This feat is also achieved by the endearing Princess (Laura Andresen Guimaroes); a panto heroine with a modern feistiness, her voice really packs a punch, and the same can be said for the Green Genie (Lucy Wells) who oozes glitter and cosmic energy.

The new avatar for the dame is Widow T and she does not disappoint! The outrageous, annual favourite delivers comedy line after line with jokes that hit the spot – the kind with enough for the kids and plenty for the grown-ups too. Only Nock can get away with those close-to-the-wire innuendoes! How the rest of the cast hold it together is beyond me. 

Nock’s strength is playfully toying with an audience and he really lavishes in their reaction. A proper panto pro who clearly loves (and was made for) his role – it just wouldn’t be the same without him. Yet, as much as we love Nock, no-one wants to be ‘that guy’! The one specially selected for playful ridicule throughout the night. Well done to all those who survive; it’s brilliantly funny for the rest of us! 

Dawn Allsopp’s costume designs for our beloved dame are also vivacious—both fantastic and terrifying in equal measure.  By the third costume change, there are definite Moulin Rouge vibes! The yellow Doc Martens are also back once again to complete the necessary outlandish look.

Then, of course, there’s the baddie, with the return of Kenny Davies as sorcerer Abanazer. He languishes in the dramatic ‘boos’ and certainly isn’t phased by a good old heckle. Both he and Nock thrive on the interaction with the audience.

The show’s real charm lies in its irrepressible fun, under direction of Rob Salmon. Peter Rowe’s script? Oh, it’s a rollercoaster of puns and cheeky asides. There are moments where the actors (mostly Widow T)  knew they were walking a fine line, but they leaned into it with such gusto, you couldn’t help but laugh along. A moment of slapstick here, an over-the-top “Oh yes he is!” there—and before you know it, you are in fits of laughter.

Underneath all the glitter, laughs and skilful ad-libbing, is a cast who deliver high-quality performances in such an endearing theatre, producing an infectiously funny production. City Varieties welcomes you in, and Aladdin really kicks off the festive season. It wouldn’t be Christmas without this rock ‘n’ roll ritual!

Aladdin is at Leeds City Varieties until January 11th 2026 – more information and tickets can be found here.