Gareth's Culture and Travel Blog

Creating a show that has an 11-year old and his godfather both in stitches is a real achievement in my book.

Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner (from a TV channel called CBBC, apparently) give us, well, potted versions of six pantos and a ‘mash-up’ of another, Aladdin, with Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. They have bags of energy, bucketloads of charm and more silliness than a coachload of 12-year olds. Every panto tradition gets a look in, there are quick changes a plenty, much audience participation and a brilliant ‘3D’ sequence that would have you rolling in the aisles if you weren’t on your feet.

The show owes something to groups that went before, like The Reduced Shakespeare Company, but that takes nothing away from the fact that it was huge fun. For me, you can keep the spectacle of Shrek and Matilda, this is pure entertainment that relies entirely on inventiveness, talent and imagination. A big seasonal treat for both the 11-year old and the oldie. Thoroughly recommended.