Pantomimes & Christmas shows: Curtain up, light the lights…
Andrew Kay on the pure yuletide joy of a festive theatre trip
Nothing says Christmas more to me than a festive trip to the theatre. My grandparents took me to see a panto at Liverpool’s beautiful Empire Theatre when I was a small boy, Tommy Steele in Mother Goose, and the memory has stayed with me ever since. Pantomime was a huge part of my childhood and the bedrock in many ways of my love of theatre.
I love the atmosphere of a festively full theatre, an audience of all ages bristling with excitement and anticipation, the magic of a deep red velvet curtain masking the fun that lies beyond, the thrill of a fanfare as the band strikes up the overture and the gasp as the first set is revealed. I cannot resist the traditions, the audience shouting out “It’s behind you” and “Oh, no it isn’t”. I like the silly audience songs, the songsheet and the sweeties, and even the most miserable cannot help but be carried along on a wave of seasonal silliness and fun. Pantomimes rock and here in Sussex we have some of the finest example to be found on the British stage.
Pantomimes are classics, worthy of being on any stage and as important in theatrical history as the great tragedies and comedies. And if anyone thinks that they are outdated then think again. The format might go back more than a few generations but the artistry required certainly benefits from the newer technologies that can make the magic really happen: magic carpet rides, ghosts and transformations, evil witches in mirrors… that said, I can equally get excited at the site of a Shetland pony pulling a crystal carriage and there is still something delightful about a chorus of talented children from a local theatre school giving their all.
We are also privileged to get a great many superb Christmas shows, seasonal alternatives to the traditional that will satisfy those of you who feel that you are too old for panto, although I’m sorry if you are. Christmas shows offer a different kind of fun, they can be more adult, bawdier and rowdier too, but no less thrilling and that is a good thing. Offerings form the West End, huge servings of yuletide nostalgia and comedy all have their place on the Christmas stage and I for one enjoy these as much as I love panto. I love the glitter and gaudy opulence of a West End show, I adore the Christmas hits, the songs that we all know so well and can easily sing along to.
The traditional panto may still be my great love, but over the years I have come more and more to love the newer forms of Christmas entertainment. I’m happy to see either, and often see both, and luckily here in Sussex we have both, great pantomimes and superb Christmas shows to suit all tastes.
I can’t wait to get out there again to cheer and boo and hiss along with the rest of you. Christmas is a time for families and fun and what better to pull all of those things together than a trip to the theatre?
Emporium
With panto season fast approaching, Emporium’s Repertory Company proudly bring panto back to Brighton, the only family panto in Brighton!
Cinders is a magic retelling of the much loved story. Expect a villainess to boo, a dashing prince, a super-sized pumpkin and more. Local writer and actor Nigel Fairs has the splendid job of penning this Christmas treat. His writing credits include Dr Who audio books.
Introducing Justine Martin in the titular role and starring Brighton’s Fake Bush – Lucy Bundy – as The Fairy God-Mother, Cinders promises an array of fabulous stage effects and daring theatricality,
Suitable for ages three plus, Cinders contains panto scary frights, and a few whizbangs that may scare younger audiences.
Cinders, The Emporium, London Road, Brighton, 22 November2013–4 January 2014, various times: www.emporiumbrighton.com/cinders
The Hawth
The Hawth is proud to announce its 25th anniversary pantomime Cinderella will star one of Britain’s most popular young TV presenters: Stephen Mulhern.
Stephen is a popular host of smash hit TV shows Catchphrase, Britain’s Got More Talent, Big Star’s Little Star and is a regular member of ITV’s This Morning.
Stephen is also an experienced stage performer having starred in numerous theatre productions including playing Danny in Grease, his own magic shows, The Royal Variety Show and pantomime seasons.
Stephen, who will play Buttons in the show, says: “I am absolutely thrilled to be playing Buttons in the greatest pantomime of them all. We aim to make this the funniest and most spectacular pantomime ever seen at The Hawth, so don’t miss it. I look forward to seeing everyone there!” Joining Stephen on stage will be presenter Sid Sloane from CBeebies.
Cinderella promises to be a truly spectacular show combining the classic fairytale with brilliant song and dance, side-splitting comedy and truly amazing illusions and plenty of audience participation.
So polish those glass slippers and prepare to have a ball!
Cinderella, The Hawth, Crawley, 13 December 2013–5 January 2014, £10–£24.95. For tickets call the Box Office on 01293 553636 or online at www.hawth.co.uk
Eastbourne Theatres
Let the Genie grant your wish and join Eastbourne Theatres for another magical pantomime. Widow Twankey wants a husband (those sitting in row three have been warned!), evil Abanazar wants the magic lamp, Aladdin wants adventure and Wishee-Washee wants a clean vest – can the Genie grant their wishes?
Starring Shaun Williamson as Abanazar – known to most from his long-running role as Barry in EastEnders and as the hapless sidekick to Stephen Merchant in Ricky Gervais’s Extras. Shaun is a seasoned theatrical, television and film performer, who has also enjoyed a successful recording career.
Accompanying Shaun are comic Tucker as Wishee-Washee and Martyn Knight as Widow Twankey – both back by popular demand, plus Charlene Ford as Aladdin who comes to Eastbourne straight from the West End.
It promises you a show jam-packed with all of the essential pantomime ingredients plus top class live music, a fabulous cast, dazzling sets and a magic carpet ride through a spectacular adventure!
Aladdin, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne,
13 December 2013–12 January 2014, £11–£20.
Book now on 01323 412000 or online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
Brighton Dome
With Christmas approaching, Brighton Dome asks you to forget last minute shopping, the endless piles of wrapping and the desperate search for the perfect turkey by offering memorable events for all the family.
Fresh from a spell in New York City, Finland’s Race Horse Company trade Times Square for Churchill Square and bring Petit Mal: Concrete Circus to Brighton Dome’s historic Concert Hall. A unique spectacle of high octane circus performance, you will laugh and gasp in equal measure as this performance takes to a stage of debris and wreckage, pulling you from the rubble and treating you to a show like no other. A mix of extreme trampolining, break-dance and daring acrobatics – a far cry from traditional clowns and jugglers – will undoubtedly excite all ages this festive season.
Also on offer is a fresh retelling of yuletide institution, The Nutcracker by Ballet Theatre UK, reminding you there is no better backdrop to winter than The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. A talented young cast with a huge level of critical acclaim inject a new lease of life into this Christmas classic.
A spectacular programme for this December means that Brighton Dome can promise excitement for one and all this Christmas – visit www.brightondome.org for the full festive line-up.
Petiti Mal: Concrete Circus, Brighton Dome, 17–22 December 2013,
7.30pm Tues–Sat, 3pm Sun £10–£20
The Nutcracker, Brighton Dome, 28 December 2013,
2.30pm and 7.30pm, £10–£19.50
Theatre Royal Brighton
Get ready for the ride of your life! Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, The Musical, the feel-good international hit sensation, is coming to Theatre Royal Brighton for three weeks only this Christmas.
Based on the smash hit movie, Priscilla is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed of.
With a hit parade of dancefloor favourites including ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Finally’, ‘Boogie Wonderland’, ‘Go West’, ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, and ‘I Love The Nightlife’, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of fabulous!
Noel Sullivan takes the lead role of Tick for the Brighton run. Noel is best known as one fifth of the record-breaking pop band Hear’Say.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is sure to sell out, so don’t miss the chance to see the show while the Priscilla bus is parked in Brighton this Christmas.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, The Musical, 17 December 2013–5 January 2014
To book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton*
0844 871 7650*
Tickets from £15 – £37.50
No perfs 24, 25 & 30 Dec
*Subject to booking fee
Worthing Theatres
Gardening guru Charlie Dimmock leads the cast of Jack And The Beanstalk at Worthing’s Connaught Theatre (6 December 2013– 4 January 2014) where she is joined by Heart Breakfast presenters Tom and Jack to tell the traditional pantomime story of a boy who sells his family cow for beans. As the giant beanstalk stretches into the skies Charlie, as Fairy Organic, must battle the giant Blunderbore and his evil sidekick Fleshcreep. There will also be traditional ghost gags and plenty of sing-along songs when dotty Dame Trott, Daisy the Cow, Simple Simon and Princess Amelia invite audiences to join in with their yuletide frolics.
Meanwhile Christmas could be cancelled if Claire Sweeney as the wicked Ice Queen gets her wish in the dazzling production of Santa Claus – The Musical at Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre (11 December 2013–5 January 2014). Packed with beloved Christmas classics including ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and ‘Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer’, the feel-good show transforms the theatre into the North Pole where Rudolph and his reindeer friends live in a winter wonderland alongside Santa, Jack Frost and a cast of dancing penguins, polar bears and singing crows.
Santa Claus – The Musical, Pavilion Theatre, Worthing,11 December 2013–5 January 2014,
Jack And The Beanstalk, Connaught Theatre, Worthing, Friday 6 December 2013–4 January 2014,
Tickets from £10.50, available from the box office on 01903 206206 or online at www.worthingtheatres.co.uk
TOM The Old Market
Imaginations are required to tell the story of Pinocchio at TOM this Christmas. All the tools of a carpenter’s workshop come alive to tell the original story; Pinocchio will be intricately carved from a log, brushes will become a fox and two saws will transform into one giant fish. That is, if your imagination will let them!
Award-winning company Indefinite Articles collaborate with the acclaimed Scamp Theatre for a five-day run at TOM (The Old Market) around New Year’s Day. Indefinite Articles’ work focuses on turning the commonplace into something extraordinary. Company founder Sally Brown hopes that young audiences will leave Pinocchio thinking ‘I can do that’.
“Children’s entertainment is often too defined, leaving no space for the child’s own imagination,” says Sally. “There is another way of telling a story; in our version, we use familiar objects in an unfamiliar form, allowing for a creative relationship between the performer and audience.”
Indefinite Articles’ delightfully inventive show has been enjoyed worldwide – from Edinburgh to New York, and even at London’s National Theatre – but each performance is unique so expect something entirely new this December in Hove.
Bring your imaginations. Leave with whole worlds of magical possibility.
Pinocchio, TOM, 28 December 2013–2 January 2014, 2pm & 4pm 28–30 Dec & 2 Jan; 11am 31 Dec, 01273 201800, www.theoldmarket.com
The Capitol Horsham
Don’t miss your opportunity to see one of Britain’s best loved soap actors Steve Arnold and an all-star cast in the swashbuckling tale of Peter Pan at The Capitol Horsham this Christmas. Everyone can be a child as they take the second star to the right and fly far far away to Neverland with Peter Pan and his friends. J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is undoubtedly one of the most famous and best-loved stories for children; an unforgettable magical fantasy enjoyed by generations for over a hundred years. Sprinkled with a bit of Horsham panto magic this will be a must see show!
The pantomime is not the only show on in Horsham this Christmas: From the author of the popular children’s book Dear Zoo, Horsham is presenting Rod Campbell’s Dear Santa in The Capitol’s Studio. It is the perfect show for young children and their families. This Christmas treat contains audience participation and the opportunity to meet and receive an exclusive gift from Santa!
Peter Pan, Thu 12 December 2013–Sun 5 January 2014.
Dear Santa, Sat 7–Tue 24 December 2013.
The Capitol Horsham,
North Street, Horsham,
West Sussex, RH12 1RG
Box Office: 01403 750 220 www.thecapitolhorsham.com
Martlets
Musicals for the Martlets – 10th Anniversary Spectacular:
If you love musicals then come to the biggest show in Brighton on Sunday 17 November at Hove Town Hall. Musicals For The Martlets features songs from all the best loved Broadway and West End shows.
Featuring performances from: Miss Saigon, CATS, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Showboat, 42nd Street, Chicago, Sunset Boulevard and many, many more. The show features many local talented performers, singing groups and musicians. There will be guest soloists from the West End. It will be hosted by popular radio presenters, Sarah Gorrell (BBC Sussex) and Juice FM’s Guy Lloyd.
Don’t miss the magic of Martlets’ musical spectacular!
Musicals For The Martlets, The Hove Centre, Sunday 17 November, 4pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £12, £15, £20. Call the Box Office on 01273 964200.
