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Archive for the 'Festive 08/09' Category

The Wizard of Oz – Lowry Theatre, Salford

The Wizard of Oz by L Frank BaumMusic and lyrics: Harold Arlen & EY HarburgDirector – Simon RawlingsMusical director – Jim WellsReviewer: Philipa JenkinsWith such a well-loved musical as The Wizard of Oz comes big expectations, and this was heightened with the casting of Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft as the Wicked Witch.The show gets [...]

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Goldilocks & the Three Bears – The Customs House, South Shields

Golidlocks & the Three Bears by Ray Spencer & Graeme ThompsonDirector: Ray SpencerReviewer: Ian CainYou don’t need to go down to the woods to be sure of a big surprise, just take a trip to The Customs House to see Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Affectionately termed ‘the little panto with the big heart,’ the [...]

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Dick Whittington – Watford Palace Theatre

Dick Whittington by Joyce BranaghDirector: Joyce BranaghReviewer: Kevin O’BrienWatford’s choice of pantomime this year is Dick Whittington and His Cat. The magic of this performance is hinted at even before you take your seat – even the programme is a triumph. As well as the usual pen-pics and photos of the cast, there are lots [...]

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Peter Pan – West Yorkshire Playhouse

Peter Pan by JM BarrieMusic: George StilesLyrics: Anthony DreweBook: Willis HallDirector: Rachel KavanaughReviewer: Nicola Sharp Age 14From the lighting of the first gas-lamp, to the fading of the final star, Peter Pan at the West Yorkshire Playhouse was a phenomenal success! Based on JM Barrie’s original play, this musical adventure had been tuned to near [...]

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The Story of Aladdin – Nuffield Theatre, Southampton

The Story of AladdinDirector: Patrick SandordReviewer: Jim Nicholson & the 1st Sholing Girl Guides. JimEvery newspaper tells us that kids have changed and when four year old Lauren, up on stage to help make a cake, is asked what she wants for Christmas and replies “a Nintendo DS” you think they may be right, but [...]

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The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe – Birmingham Rep

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S LewisDramatisation: Adrian MitchellDirector: Ian BrownReviewer: Helen ChapmanEven for someone who was never enchanted by Narnia as a child, the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe didn’t fail to transport me into a fantasy world where wardrobes lead to new worlds, [...]

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Hansel & Gretel – Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne

Hansel & Gretel by Stephen Sharkey Director: Erica WhymanReviewer: Ian CainThe festive season has already got off to a fantastic start in the North East, with Northern Stage’s production of Hansel & Gretel. Stephen Sharkey’s stylish adaptation of the fairy tale by The Brothers Grimm is given a strong local twist through North East settings, [...]

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Aladdin – Coliseum Theatre, Oldham

Aladdin by Eric PottsDirector: Kevin ShawChoreographer: Beverley EdmundsReviewer: The Patrick FamilyHelen PatrickThis has to be one of the best traditional pantomimes I have taken my family to see, with no ‘Star’ names to carry the production, credit must be given to the production team in creating a show that is slick, pacey and full of [...]

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