Aylesbury Waterside – until Sunday 4th January 2026
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
5*****
FUN, FUN, FUN – AMAZING! A MUST SEE PANTO!
What an amazing pantomime, from the 1st second to the end, fun, vibrant, exciting, if I could give it more than 5 stars I would. I’ve been going for years to the Aylesbury Waterside panto’s and each year they get better and this was no exception it was the best they have ever done – Well Done Aylesbury Waterside, I am still buzzing from it!
The cast is relatively small for a powerful panto and all had such clarity, you could hear every word spoken clearly, along with every word in the songs and jokes.
The baddie Fleshcreep played by Nigel Harman – know for Dr Max Cristie was awesome, he was really into the role and has some great dance moves! The Aylesbury Waterside panto won’t be the same with Andy Collns who again gave it his awe as Silly Simon, (Andy Collins is a BBC 3 Counties Radio presenter) Jacks brother. Leon Craig played the Dame – Dame Dot Trott it is his 20th year as a Dame in pantoland, and the inneundo’s kept coming, whilst wearing numerous eccentric costumes and wigs a great character.
You could feel the great rapport they all had, all the cast were smiley and vibrant and looked like they were all having as much fun as the audience. The Ensemble were foot perfect along with the children that were faultless. The audience were shouting back, laughing and just having a great time, which is what panto is about.
Jack Trott wasn’t a stranger to the Aylesbury Waterside, Jack was played superbly by Joe Sleight, Joe was back after playing Eddie in Blood Brothers early in the year. We also had Jill Pickle played by Emma Crossley who has plenty of theatre credits and then we had brilliant The Spirit of the Beans – Shani Cantor, couldn’t fault her performance and she was definitely full of beans herself – perfect for the part, she was very professional, fun and dressed in her glamorous but over the top, but right for the part fairy outfit and of course had a wand.
The second half you were provided 3D glasses, and oh wow the effects were brilliant causing squeals and laughter, 100% for the graphics. Make sure you take a raincoat unless you want to get wet as you definitely need it for the second half of the panto and bring a water pistol . Then of course we had the 12 Days of Christmas song always causing great chaos.
It is a bang up to date panto with songs from Ps and K-Pop Demon Hunters which all the children will know and love.
A big shout out to all the production team, creative, wardrobe (outfits were brilliant), orchestra that all made it happen and not forgetting all the staff, ushers, bar staff, security , marketing, management they all worked together to put on a great panto.
Fe Fi Fo Fum this panto was packed full of FUN.