4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Dec 6, 2022 11:51:39 GMT
I swear, it’s almost exactly the same every year. Isn't that pretty much panto in a nutshell? Sure, but I think if I Panto next year I’ll try somewhere else. |
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 6, 2022 14:11:30 GMT
Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire is an absolute riot! Clive Rowe is the doyenne of dames, lots of adlibbing and teasing his castmates. Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. How's Brenda Edwards, Matthew Kelly and Lee Mead? Kelly is wonderful but wasted in a very, very small part. Edwards has a belting set of pipes and it was lovely seeing Mead sing Joseph. |
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Post by fiyero on Dec 6, 2022 16:24:02 GMT
Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. That sounds very short! glad we are near the front so can take it all in. Sounds like we will be back to the hotel nice and early! |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Dec 6, 2022 22:47:38 GMT
Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre panto (Goldilocks and The Three Bears) has an interesting line up this year: Jason Donovan, Fae Brooke, and Sooty. Tbh I’m tempted to go for Sooty alone (who seems to have become a bit of a long-term resident at the Mayflower, at least in panto season)
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Post by CG on the loose on Dec 7, 2022 1:09:20 GMT
Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. That sounds very short! glad we are near the front so can take it all in. Sounds like we will be back to the hotel nice and early! I saw it at the weekend, think it was closer to 50 mins each half, so 2 hours all in, which was fine for me! I do love panto, but there's nearly always something that I could happily fast forward - not so, though, with this fabulous cast. I thought it a really well-balanced production that gives everyone their time to shine. Quite traditional, as talkingheads says, no big FX, lots of silliness, and lots of chances to hear all that wonderful vocal power. |
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Post by theatreian on Dec 8, 2022 23:41:35 GMT
Saw Beauty and The Beast in Malvern tonight on their opening night. Very entertaining with some Les mis and Love Never Dies tunes. Jokes largely landed and a good reception from the audience.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 10, 2022 1:25:32 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre.
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7,176 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 10, 2022 1:37:09 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre. Is the theatre New and related to tennis in anyway?  I have noticed panto sales were very strong this year hence why there was no need to repeat the Lottery scheme. The Bristol Hippodrome for example has sold very well and that's a 2000 plus theatre. |
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 10, 2022 21:42:14 GMT
I saw Berwick Kaler's annual rubbish in York today. There is no better panto cast in the country. I hurt from laughing, Berwick always adlibbing and there is such genuine love that eminates from actor to audience and vice versa. David Leonard is a superb villain.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 11, 2022 10:13:17 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre. Is the theatre New and related to tennis in anyway? I have noticed panto sales were very strong this year hence why there was no need to repeat the Lottery scheme. The Bristol Hippodrome for example has sold very well and that's a 2000 plus theatre. Nope. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 12, 2022 4:51:40 GMT
If anyone could advise me of a good panto in the London area (preferably to the south-west/west for ease of travel), I'd be grateful, please, though not thinking of anywhere huge or in the West End. Having seen the Yvonne Arnaud one a couple of years ago after years of almost never going to panto, I quite enjoyed it but when I rebooked for last year, hoping for a similar experience, it seemed like more of the same, only worse, and the only review I've so far seen for their current one is discouraging.
Last year a friend raved about the Woking panto, though she'd gone in a large family group, ie with children. Some years ago I also saw Cinderella in Wimbledon which was fine, but again, not enjoyable enough to make me rush to book another one the following year and of course, so much depends on the individual production.
Bearing in mind train and tube strikes, even aiming for somewhere like Kingston/Richmond/Wimbledon/Woking is ambitious but if anyone can recommend this year's panto at any of those or nearby, I'd be grateful, please.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 12, 2022 9:06:34 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes.
On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet?
Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length.
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 12, 2022 12:00:02 GMT
There's Peter Pan in Crawley, showgirl. I haven't seen it, obviously, but Evolution has a good reputation. |
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 12, 2022 13:47:56 GMT
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. The Legend of Robin Hood. Really beautiful and unusual theatre Grade 1 listed building which is very 'acoustically lively' i.e. loud when all the Kids participate. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_Royal,_Bury_St_Edmunds The plot is a very light touch feminist update. - spoiler alert it seems the Legend is just that. Girlpower wins out! Sadly don't have a programme so can't big up the splendid actors who played the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham or the "Fairy Godmotherish" Maid Marion. I was part of large group and, despite the fact I don't much care for Panto I have to admit, the business is excellent and the kids are guaranteed a good time. |
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Post by bimse on Dec 12, 2022 16:33:49 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes. On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet? Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length. A good friend has seen Goldilocks in Richmond, and raved about it. Gets good reviews as well. It’s not exactly a traditional panto as such but it has a Dame role in the very capable hands of Nigel Ellacott, who incidentally writes a blog each year on www.it’s-behind-you.com which is always well worth reading , and gives details and photos of the production . |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:16:49 GMT
There's Peter Pan in Crawley, showgirl . I haven't seen it, obviously, but Evolution has a good reputation. Thank you, TallPaul; hadn't even considered Crawley as I never see a single review of a production there and they're normally a receiving house only but shall look. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:18:26 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes. On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet? Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length. Thank you, Dr Tom; actually MK is way too far north but I'm grateful for the suggestion. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:25:50 GMT
Have now come up with my own shortlist of 5 pantos in the London/SW London area, based on favourable reviews on review websites, though some productions have very early end dates - a new trend, perhaps? I've always been frustrated in that past as a keen theatregoer but not a fan of panto, by the way panto tended to clog up most theatres from December until January or even February, so maybe things are changing now.
Alice In Wonderland at Brixton House - though not a lover of rap;
Peter Pan at the Ashcroft, Croydon;
A Xmas Carol at the Rose, Kingston;
A Xmas Carol at Soho Theatre;
and possibly, though this is in the West End, which I wanted to avoid, and probably too expensive and busy
Mother Goose at the Duke of Yorks.
Shame A Xmas Carol seems to be so popular this year and that I've already booked to see this year's Old Vic version, which will be my 3rd year seeing it, but as long as they're all well done and different, preferable to seeing something else done badly.
Anyone able to narrow the above down further for me, either way, please say!
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Post by Jon on Dec 13, 2022 16:48:21 GMT
I had noticed many pantos end on December 31st. There are a few exceptions, the Birmingham Hippodrome one doesn't end until the end of January but it only starts this Saturday. I guess it varies from theatre to theatre.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 13, 2022 23:04:43 GMT
I had noticed many pantos end on December 31st. There are a few exceptions, the Birmingham Hippodrome one doesn't end until the end of January but it only starts this Saturday. I guess it varies from theatre to theatre. School holidays vary regionally, which can also play a factor. |
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Post by Jon on Dec 15, 2022 1:58:16 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back.
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Post by Mark on Dec 15, 2022 8:47:59 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday. |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Dec 15, 2022 8:59:23 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday. Whatabout Sundays? |
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Post by Mark on Dec 15, 2022 9:18:31 GMT
No shows on Strictly Saturday. Whatabout Sundays? All recorded on Saturday |
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Post by Jon on Dec 15, 2022 14:11:26 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday. It's still a long day considering they have to do rehearsals and tech in the mornings and then commute to and from their panto location the night before or the morning after. I'm sure the panto money makes it worth it though. To a lesser degree, Brenda Edwards is doing Loose Women on her off day although I admit not as much work involved with that and it's only a few hours tops. |
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