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Andrew Kay is delighted with the Theatre Royal‘s break from the traditional Christmas pantomime

I love pantomime, I like principal boys, dames, fairies, goodies and baddies – I even like the tiny tots from local stage schools. I grew up with panto, from local am drams to massive mainstream productions. I volunteered at a local theatre each year to do the make-up and when I finally left home for art school I did my final dissertation on pantomime. You could say I was obsessed.
So when I heard that Brighton’s Theatre Royal was producing a Christmas musical I was sad. That said, I was fast to air my views on the previous year’s pantomime, declaring it a disaster. Maybe I had played a part in nailing the lid on Sleeping Beauty’s coffin.
The announcement that this year’s show would be The Wizard Of Oz came as a shock to many but West End star and director Tim Flavin made an impassioned case for it, and in a public presentation won many of us over – in theory. Of course the proof would be in this Christmas pudding, would it be a fluffy meringue or a plum duff?
Well I am delighted to be eating humble pie and say that The Wizard of Oz was a queen of puddings, a delightful confection that satisfied the audience on every level.
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Tourism bosses are trying to cash in on the strength of the Euro by attracting visitors from mainland Europe this year.
VisitBrighton estimates it has generated overseas media coverage worth £1.4million since March, including £700,000 in Germany. There has been a wave of articles in European media including Germany’s edition of Vanity Fair and France’s Marie Claire. German national papers Welt Sonntag and NZZ have also run major features along with several regional French publications. In the autumn tourism staff hosted representatives of German and French media, extolling the virtues of Brighon’s hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and nightlife. A feature has appeared on German national radio showcasing Brighton as a great winter destination. VisitBrighton’s marketing manager John Carmichael said: “Marketing experts say that promotion is even more important in a recession. If you can get your voice across when others are going quiet, you’ll be among the best known when the slump ends.”

VisitBrighton/ Richard Enticknap

Head to the Brighton Heath & Racquets Club for a life-changing Esporta health and fitness experience

With first-class racquet facilities, state-of-the art gym equipment, luxurious swimming and spa areas, restaurant, classes of all types, crèche and children’s classes, specialist sport shop, health and beauty treatments and a wealth of social events, Esporta really does have the lot.
The club boasts a 25 metre indoor pool, a 20 metre outdoor heated pool (open all year round), children’s pool, spa, steam and sauna and newly refurbished changing facilities. Plus a state-of-the-art fitness arena and over 75 studio classes a week, from salsa to spin. You can also try your hand at the extensive racquets facilities: eight indoor and three outdoors (covered throughout the winter) tennis courts, plus squash and badminton courts.
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This was a brilliant, nostalgic reminder of how prolific and musically tight this adaptable band have been over the past three decades.
Appearing as a seven-piece line-up, they were energised, charismatic and full of beans – best of all, they really seemed to enjoy gigging and being back together after their five-year break-up.
As well as new material and tracks from Hey Ma, they were not too proud to deliver their biggest songs – if they are sick of ‘Say Something’ and their encores ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid,’ they didn’t show it. 
They finished to three standing ovations. Great fun.
Brighton Dome, 9 December
5/5
Rachel Pegg