Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Sunday 4th January 2026
Reviewed by Chris Jarvis
5*****
“The Fairy Godmother of all Pantos!”
And what an amazing Fairy Godmother Christina Bianco was tonight!! Sensational, glamorous with an exceptional voice. She arrived on stage in a puff of fairy dust to welcome her audience and set the scene of the story we all know and love.
Making his Nottingham pantomime debut was the renowned Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood; hated and loved in equal measure for his sharp tongue, droll manner. He is the perfect choice to play the wicked stepmother Baroness Demonica Hardup. He makes his flamboyant entrance on stage in a chauffeur driven limousine to the theme from ‘Strictly’ and a cheer from the audience – not usually shown to the villain of the panto world, though likely from the many ‘Strictly’ fans in the audience.
However, Buttons soon converts us to the expected ‘Boo’s & Hisses’ whenever Demonica appears on stage. Neil Hurst playing Buttons isn’t new to pantomime but like Craig Revel Horwood, this is also his first time in Nottingham’s Panto. It’s virtually impossible not to smile when Buttons is on stage as his whole demeanor is fun and cheeky interaction with the audience but remind me not to buy tickets for the front row of the stalls!!!
Buttons and Baroness Demonica bounce off each other so well, and on numerous occasions both come close to losing control and dissolving into laughter. It is often impossible to know whether they are following script, making mistakes or just ad libbing, but this all adds to the spontaneity and hilarity. Very early on Demonica finds herself on the floor and requires a couple of the dancing ensemble to hoist him back to the vertical – scripted or not the audience loved seeing the always impeccable Craig Revel Horwood flat on his back with legs akimbo.
As might be expected, there are many references to ‘Strictly’ with the theme tune often heard, Craig’s well-known A-MAY-ZING and FAB-U-LOUS frequently used, dance references and even naming the Wicked Stepsisters Tess (May Tether) and Claudia (Brit Lenting). Possibly too many for those in the audience who don’t watch Strictly Come Dancing, though seemed to be enjoyed by many.
Cinderella is played by the lovely Elly Jay and she projected a perfect image of the sweet stepsister treated like a servant by her stepmother and stepsisters. She portrayed a gentleness that made her best friend Buttons fall helplessly in love with her. Her relationship with
Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Prince Charming and his manservant Dandini (Daniel Norford) was just that – charming!
The set was beautiful and one of the most colourful I’ve seen in pantomimes. It welcomed you in as soon as you entered the auditorium. The music provided by a live 5-part orchestra enhanced the performance. Act 1 ends with Cinderella going to the ball in a magnificent carriage and horses – a real spectacle! Choreography was brilliant and dancers all fantastic. Make-up and costumes were colourful with the usual extravagant costumes worn with flair by Craig Revel Horwood. He was certainly a star of the show, flouncing around the stage with a glint in his eye, evil expressions and an amazing voice that I hadn’t expected. He took me by surprise from the start when he blasted out Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and later crooned Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’. He can certainly sing!
Buttons was equally amazing with the usual panto jokes both corny, funny and local, with much innuendo and up to date references such as his brilliant portrayal of Liam Gallager.
The Fairy Godmother was also exceptional with a fantastic voice. Christina Blanco is a brilliant impressionist, and this is showcased in her brilliant rendition of ‘The Sun will Come Out Tomorrow’ from ‘Annie’, seemingly sung by artists from Adele, Christine Aguilera to Barbara Streisand. The audience loved it!
If I had to choose my favourite bit, the hilarious act with Demonica, Buttons, Tess and Claudia singing to Pantomime’s slapstick ‘If I Were Not in Pantomime…….’ reworded to ‘If I Were Not At Hardup Manor’ was one of the funniest I’ve ever seen.
All in all an A-MAY-ZING and FAB-U-LOUS production that gets a 10 from me!