Word on the panto grapevine is that rehearsals for York Theatre Royal’s Cinderella are officially underway… Playing Prince Charming this festive season is Benjamin Lafayette, who, since leaving Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, has appeared in the short film “Raheem” (The Second Summer of Love) and played the title role in Shakespeare’s “Othello” for Mill... Continue Reading →
Interview: Daniel Swift Talks Concrete Youth Theatre’s Winter Wonderland
Fresh from their online hit Sheeba’s Adventure to Jopplety How, Concrete Youth are back with a brand new show. This company, specialising in inclusive theatre for those living with profound and multiple learning difficulties, will be bringing Winter Wonderland to homes all over the land thanks to some tech know-how, a cracking cast and a... Continue Reading →
Review: Nottingham Theatre Royal’s Cinderella
Sunday 1st December 2019 at Nottingham Theatre Royal. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nottingham Theatre Royal’s 2019 panto offering is a whirling delight of razzle dazzle and charm. Highlights are many and lulls are a grand total of zero - from the dancing pumpkins to the many magical moments to the all-important carriage ride, this is grand scale panto... Continue Reading →
Review: Nottingham Playhouse’s Sleeping Beauty
Saturday 30th November 2019 at Nottingham Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Ey up me ducks!’ Panto fever has landed in Nottingham and this year, Nottingham Playhouse have a real treat in store with this production of Kenneth Alan Taylor’s Sleeping Beauty. This is a Nottingham Playhouse family affair, with regular panto favourites returning to appreciative cheers from regulars.... Continue Reading →
Review: Harrogate Theatre’s Snow White
Friday 29th November 2019 at Harrogate Theatre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sparkles and snickers and singing and quipping? It’s panto time in Harrogate! This take on the classic Snow White is a beautifully adapted homage to all things Yorkshire and Harrogatian thanks to co-writers Phil Lowe (who also directs) and David Bown. Set in Happygate, Yawnshire, this rollicking... Continue Reading →
Review: The Wizard of Oz At Leeds Playhouse
Tuesday 25th November 2019 at Leeds Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lions and tigers and bears? Witches and munchkins and ruby slippers? Oh my! Oz is well and truly back in town! When it comes to the highly anticipated show for the festive season, Leeds Playhouse likes to go BIG. This production of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard... Continue Reading →
Review: Wrongsemble’s The Princess and the Sprout
Sunday 16th December 2018 at Leeds Central Library. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Family shows which strike the balance between being child-friendly and genuinely engaging for all are relatively hard to come by. The shows which get past that first round rarely make it over the next hurdle: actors performing with a dash of kid’s TV energy rather than... Continue Reading →
Review: The Grand Old Dame of York at York Theatre Royal
Friday 14th December 2018 at York Theatre Royal. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Berwick Kaler’s panto has been a York staple for the last 40 years. This is the last of his shows for the Theatre Royal as retirement is on the horizon, and that gives this show a unique atmosphere of great sentiment and celebration amidst the fun... Continue Reading →
Review: Jack and the Beanstalk at Harrogate Theatre
Friday 7th December 2018 at Harrogate Theatre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s December in Harrogate and the local theatre is in full buzzing swing. An audience of Brownies, Scouts and various other cute kids’ organisations are filling rows with swathes of uniformed little ‘uns and filling the air space with giggles and chatter. It’s panto time! The story?... Continue Reading →
Review: Robin Hood & The Babes in the Wood at Nottingham Playhouse
Saturday 1st December at Nottingham Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writer and Director of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, Kenneth Alan Taylor, clearly knows what panto is all about. The show is packed with fun, fantasy and plenty of cheerfully gaudy excess - full of life and colour in every sense, this is a very... Continue Reading →