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Relish Theatre in association with Park Theatre present the world premiere of
TIME AND TIDE

By James McDermott

5-29 February 2020 | Park Theatre

Relish Theatre in association with Park Theatre are proud to present the world premiere of award-winning playwright James McDermott’s new play TIME AND TIDE, directed by Rob Ellis. Starring Wendy Nottingham as May (Vera Drake, Peaky Blinders, Mr Selfridge), Paul Easom as Ken, Elliot Liburd as Daz, and Josh Barrow as Nemo, the production runs from 5-29 February 2020, with a national press night on Friday 7 February.

May runs a crumbling caff on the end of Cromer Pier. Her delivery man, Ken, is running out of customers, thanks to Costa. Nemo is desperate to tread the boards in London. His unrequited love, Daz, is burying his head in the sand over his best mate leaving.

This touching LGBT comic drama examines the lives of a Norfolk community struggling with change. TIME AND TIDE was longlisted for The Verity Bargate Award, the Bruntwood and Papatango Playwriting Prizes, and developed as part of Park Theatre’s Script Accelerator Programme.

Wendy Nottingham plays May. Wendy is perhaps best known for her collaborations with Mike Leigh, including the BAFTA award-winning Vera Drake and Grief at the National Theatre. TV credits include: the recurring role of Mrs Crabbe in ITV’s Mr Selfridge, and series regular Mary in Peaky Blinders. Most recently Wendy appeared alongside Emma Thompson on screen in The Children Act, and starred in Diminished at the Hampstead Theatre. Forthcoming film appearances include parts in Francis Lee’s next feature, Ammonite, and Blueprint Picture’s The Last Letter From Your Lover.

Paul Easom plays Ken. Paul’s West End credits include: The Girls, Beyond The Rainbow, Evita, The Boyfriend, Budgie, and The Screen Writers Daughter. He played Lord Byron in Manfred, alongside Rudolph Nureyev (USA tour) and has toured South America with Italian Popstar Raffaella Carra. Other theatre credits include: Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui,  Gypsy,  Death Of A Salesman, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Seagull, Chicken Dust, My Big Gay Italian Wedding,  Canterbury Tales, Dracula, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Tale Of Two Cities,  Robin Hood with the New Vic Theatre Company, and Hans Christian Andersen with Tommy Steele. His TV credits include: Kids, The Cleopatras, Lifelike, and The Quartermass Experiment. And, film credits include: Lair Of The White Worm, Aria, North West Five, and Anna Karenina. Paul was last seen at Park Theatre in Hamlet.

Elliot Liburd plays Daz. Elliot’s recent theatre credits include: Beasy Baby (Liverpool Unity and The Tobacco Factory), Porthos in The Three Musketeers (Iris Theatre),  Danny in Bismillah: An Isis Tragicomedy (Wound Up Theatre), Valemon in The Girl with the Iron Claws (The Wrong Crowd), and  Arron The Moor in Titus Andronicus (Fourth Monkey Theatre Company). Elliot is Co-Founder of Fools Rush In Theatre Company and recently debuted his first piece, A Murder Most Foley, at the Pleasance Theatre, London.

Josh Barrow plays Nemo. Josh’s theatre credits include: Silk Road – How to Buy Drugs Online (Trafalgar Studios), The Outsider (The Print Room), and If Not Now, When? (National Theatre). Television credits include Sky One’s Temple, and ITV’s Vera. Josh has had film roles in The Trap, and the award-winning short My Brother Is A Mermaid.

James McDermott is a scriptwriter and performance poet based in East Anglia. Plays include: Fast Food starring Jude Law (Lyric Hammersmith), Justice 39 (Luton Culture, co-written with Roy Williams and Atiha Sen Gupta), Street Life (Norwich Theatre Royal) and Rubber Ring (Pleasance Islington; UK Tour; Winner of Pulse Festival’s Suitcase Prize 2017). James is an Associate Artist at HighTide and Norwich Arts Centre, and resident playwriting teacher at Norwich Theatre Royal.

TIME AND TIDEis directed by Rob Ellis. Rob is Artistic Director of Relish Theatre, for whom he has directed Cuttings (Hope Theatre). Other directing credits include: The Merry Wives Of Windsor (Théâtre de Verdure du Jardin Shakespeare, Paris), The Taming Of The Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Quite Right Theatre, Albert Square Gardens), Unicorn (Theatre N16), Bluebird (Katzpace), The 39 Steps (Upstairs At The Gatehouse), Six Pack (Leicester Square Theatre), Clybourne Park (St Brides Institute), and A Matter Of Life And Debt (Edinburgh Fringe).

TIME AND TIDE will have set and costume designs by Caitlin Abbott, and sound design by Fizz Margereson.

www.parktheatre.co.uk

Box office: 020 7870 6876*

THE LAST QUIZ NIGHT ON EARTH SET FOR 2020 UK TOUR

WITH GREATER MANCHESTER DATES

Immersive, innovative new play gives audiences

the rare opportunity to get quizzical!

An asteroid is heading towards Earth, so what you would do? Head to your local pub for a quiz of course!

The Last Quiz Night on Earth is an immersive, innovative new play by Alison Carr – and it’sbeing taken on a UK Tourby Box of Tricks theatre company, promising audiences a very different experience of live performance.

The play goes on tour throughout Spring 2020. The Last Quiz Night on Earth will be staged in urban and rural venues across the country, including theatres, community arts centres and local pubs – enabling the play to connect with audiences in their local communities.

The immersive play smashes the fourth wall as audiences are plunged into the drama of the show.

The tour opens at the Welcome Inn in Salford, in association with The Lowry, from Tuesday 11 February to Saturday 15 February 2020, before touring unusual spaces until Saturday 11 April 2020.

Award-winning Box of Tricks is based in Manchester and champions playwrights, producing top quality new plays on local and national stages. The company has recently won critical acclaim with its productions SparkPlug, Narvik and Under Three Moons.

Following two sold-out tours of Chip Shop Chips, Box of Tricks presents this brand new pre-apocalyptic comedy, The Last Quiz Night on Earth.

It’s the final countdown. Landlady Kathy invites audiences to the last quiz night on earth with Quizmaster Rav. He’s the host with the most. But with time ticking, some unexpected guests turn up out of the blue. Bobby wants to settle old scores, and Fran wants one last shot at love. Expect the unexpected to the bitter end and plenty of drama as the show gets quizzical!

The Last Quiz Night on Earth is written by Alison Carr, directed by Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, associate producer is Max Emmerson, with design by Katie Scott.

Playwright Alison Carr received critical acclaim for her plays Caterpillar and Iris, and her play Tuesday has been commissioned for the National Theatre’s 2020 Connections programme.

Playwright Alison Carr explains the background to the new play: “I wanted to combine the known and the unknown, the safe and the downright terrifying. My vision was to create something that audiences don’t just sit and watch but are part of – but not in a scary way. Personally, the thought of audience participation makes me feel sick but a quiz is something we can all do – whether we’re a general knowledge expert or the neatest so we can do the writing.

“The Last Quiz Night on Earth was so much fun to research and write. I have to admit, I know a lot about asteroids now, and the answers to a fair amount of quiz questions! I am so excited to have Box of Tricks bring it to life and to share it with audiences, we can’t wait to tour the play in Spring 2020.”

Director Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder added: “I’m really excited to be working with Alison Carr on her first play for Box of Tricks. Alison is a writer of real talent, crafting plays of depth, wit and real emotional warmth. The Last Quiz Night on Earth is a unique piece – a pre-apocalyptic comedy bringing people together through the power of trivia for a great night out.

“Following our success touring Chip Shop Chips to the heart of communities, I’m really looking forward to revisiting some wonderful places and spaces as well as discovering new locations with this play.”

Casting will be announced early in 2020.

Website:         www.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/boxoftrickstheatre
Twitter:           @bottc #LastQuizNight

Instagram:      @boxoftrickstheatre

LISTING INFORMATION

THE LAST QUIZ NIGHT ON EARTH

Running time approximately 120 minutes including interval

Age guidance 14+

THE WELCOME INN, SALFORD (in association with The Lowry)

Tuesday 11 February – Saturday 15 February 2020

HIGHLIGHTS NORTH

Thursday 20 February – Saturday 22 February 2020

THE HOLBECK, SLUNG LOW, LEEDS

Sunday 23 February 2020

ARTS OUT WEST, KIRKGATE

Thursday 27February – Sunday 1March 2020

HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER
Monday 2 March – Wednesday 4 March 2020

SPOT ON LANCASHIRE

Thursday 5 March – Sunday 8March 2020

BANK TOP TAVERN (in association with Oldham Library & Oldham Coliseum)

Monday 16 March – Tuesday 17 March 2020

BLACK COUNTRY TOURING

Wednesday 18 March 2020 – Thursday 19March 2020

POCKLINGTON ARTS CENTRE

Friday 20March 2020

NORTHWICH MEMORIAL COURT
Saturday 21 March 2020

STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH
Tuesday 24 March – Wednesday 25March 2020

HIGHLIGHTS NORTH
Thursday 26 March – Sunday 29 March 2020

THE BURNTWOOD PUB, MOLD (in association with Theatr Clwyd)
Tuesday 31 March – Wednesday 1 April 2020

CHESHIRE RURAL TOURING ARTS

Friday 3 April – Sunday 5 April 2020

THE MET, BURY

RADCLIFFE MARKET

RAMSBOTTOM CIVIC HALL (in association with The Met, Bury)

Tuesday 7 April – Thursday 9 April 2020

THE DUKES, LANCASTER

Friday 10 April – Saturday 11 April 2020

Studio cast recording released for
Antic Disposition’s A Christmas Carol
Middle Temple Hall, Middle Temple Lane, London, EC4Y 9AT
Saturday 21st – Monday 30th December 2019

Ahead of their return to the historic Middle Temple Hall this December with the acclaimed sellout musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Antic Disposition are delighted to announce the release of a cast album of songs and scenes from the show.

The cast of fourteen multi-talented actor-musicians is led by West End star David Burt (Enjolras in the original cast of Les Misérables; original cast of Evita) in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, Haydn Oakley (An American in Paris; Sunset Boulevard) as Bob Cratchit and – in his first ever appearance in the role – theatrical legend Brian Blessed as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

In a career spanning six decades, Blessed has starred in countless West End productions. He originated the role of Old Deuteronomy in Cats and Baron Bomburst in the musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, while his screen credits include I, Claudius, Blackadder and Flash Gordon – but incredibly, he has never before played the jolly, booming Ghost of Christmas Present.

Brian Blessed said, Christmas for me has a magic, and Dickens believes in that magic, which is why of all his novels, A Christmas Carol is my favourite. I first heard it as a child on the radio during the war years, when it gave people great hope. And then I went around acting it at school, being the Ghost of Christmas Present, but I’ve never played him since, so it’s a real treat to be able to do it on this recording.

The album combines Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale with original songs inspired by some of the best-loved Victorian Christmas carols reimagined and rearranged by lyricists Ben Horslen and John Risebero, and composer Nick Barstow. A festive treat for all the family, it’s sure to delight fans of the show and those discovering it for the first time.

The album is available to pre-order from https://www.anticdisposition.co.uk/a-christmas-carolalbum.html

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 25 January 2020

Review by Zoe Giles

3***

This year sees Martin Barrass take on the main role from the legendary York panto dame Berwick Kaler, for as many years as I can remember Martin has played right hand man to Berwick so it was lovely to finally see him take centre stage playing the Queen and come into his own, he did this alongside two other firm pantomime favourites at the York Theatre Royal Suzy Cooper as Beauty and the wonderfully wicked David Leonard as Evil Diva a role he was born to play getting the audience to
shout and boo and hiss every time he made an appearance.

York’s most famous and well-known pantomime dame has however still had a major part to play in this year’s production as Berwick has still written this year’s panto and directed along with Matt Aston, and made several guest appearances during the evening’s performance.

As usual there is all the slap stick tongue in cheek humour, we have come to expect from the classic York Theatre Royal panto, along with the good old sing a long session, and all the other usual fun and games, however I personally felt now was the time to bring it in to the 21st century and update the routines and give us something different and unexpected as with Berwick retiring this would have been the perfect opportunity to do so.

Full credit to Anthony Lamble for the amazing, outstanding and colourful costumes and set design both are wonderful and the hours of work that must have gone into producing such eye-catching costumes is unimaginable, the stage design too is dazzling, adding in the lighting from director Mark Jonathan and the mood is really set as we are taken along the performance.

Musical director Elliot Styche and Choreographer Grace Harrington must also have worked hard and closely together with all the members of the orchestra and dancers to achieve such memorable and beautiful pieces and scenes, performed by all the cast and they were very talented as were the young children who appeared alongside them,giving confident and strong stage performances.

However a huge disappointment for myself and my family personally is that the well known and much loved classic story of Sleeping Beauty is so far removed from the pantomime interpretation that we found it really hard to follow and so the children became bored and restless, we also noticed after the interval several empty seats from people who hadn’t even bothered to return I can only assume this is because it was so hard to follow.

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre – until Sunday 5 January 2020

Reviewed by Charleigh

5*****

I haven’t seen a pantomime in years, so it was safe to say I was suitably excited to see one of the Lyceums legendary shows. The atmosphere was electric as soon as you walked in, with a great mix of children and adults alike in the audience and all were thrilled to be there.

The show started with Strictly star Joanne Clifton playing “Fairy Godmother”. Straight away she had the audience interacting and laughing along with her and managed to kick the show off with a bang. Following this we were introduced to a variety of classic Cinderella characters.

The show was filled to the brim with puns, jokes and gags and had me laughing out of my chair. Although following the traditional pantomime script for the most part, writer Paul Hendy did a fabulous job of making modern twists on a typical show, including a thoroughly independent 8 year old (played by various) who does a fantastic job of challenging panto’s more old fashioned views.

“Buttons” was played by Phil Gallagher and he had both adults and children alike enthralled with his emotive performance, having be both crying with laughter and my heart breaking for him. He carried the story forward with ease and is a highly talented actor.

The one who stole the show for me had to be the brilliant Damian Williams who was playing one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters “Donaldina”. He didn’t fail to make me laugh and had me shouting at the top of my lungs, I almost felt like a child again myself.

The rest of the cast an ensemble was brilliant and kept the audience engaged throughout, a hard feat when you remember half the audience were children.

The set was amazing, managing to fully transport us into the world of theatre. The showstopper was when the coach came out, there was an audible collective gasp from the audience as we admired the beauty of it.

Musical Director James Harrison was a face in the show too which was a nice touch for me as the music was brilliant, so it was nice to be able to see who had put such hard work into putting this together.

I was utterly entertained the entire performance and had a magical night. I would recommend this show to anyone who likes a laugh and a good night out, it’s not just for kids!

New Wimbledon Theatre – until 5 January 2020

Reviewed by Alexandra Sykes

4****

With nights getting longer and colder the best place to be at the moment is the Panto and none is better than Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre. With an all star cast, lots of laughs and plenty of magic, this is a show not to be missed.

Playing the role of Cinderella is former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton, whose powerful vocals make everyone stop and listen. Although she herself doesn’t mention her past, little jokes mention it, including a character singing “Don’t Cha” to themselves for a few seconds.The villain of the show is Baroness Demonica, played by Samantha Womack, who not only mentions her Eastenders past but begs for it to stop. The Fairy Godmother is played by Lesley Garrett whose opera style voice is powerful and enchanting.

However, the true star of the show is Pete Firman as Buttons. With his cheesy jokes, engagement with the audience and amazing magic tricks, he may not have got the girl he loves but he does have the love of the audience. Rounding out the cast are Edward Chitticks as Prince Charming, whose performance of “I’m Still Standing” could rival Elton John, Will Jennings as Dandini, and Leon Craig and Bobby Delaney as the Ugly Sisters.

With an impressive set, including a gold carriage which flies, and catchy songs, this is definitely a family favourite. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because the microphones stopped working at various points so it was hard to hear what was being said.

A good night out with lots of jokes for both young and old, get a ticket before the clock strikes 12.

LIVERPOOL AUDIENCES ARE HAVING A BALL AT CITY’S CINDERELLA PANTO

REGAL ENTERTAINMENTS LAVISH DEBUT PANTOMIME IS NOW OPEN TO RAVE REVIEWS AT THE EPSTEIN THEATRE

Panto audiences are having a ball with Regal Entertainments debut festive, family panto, Cinderella, which opened at the Epstein Theatre this week.  The greatest rags to riches fairy-tale runs daily (except Christmas Day) until Sunday 5 January 2020.

Emmerdale’s Sammy Winward leads the star-studded cast as Cinderella, with Benidorm’s Crissy Rock and Brookside’s Sarah White as the wicked Ugly Sisters.  The trio are joined by Shameless’ Warren Donnelly as Lord Dandini; Andrew Geater asPrince Charming; Samantha Palin as the Fairy Godmother; and Lewis Devine as Buttons.

Cinderella has something for all the family – hilarious jokes, a talented cast of colourful characters, brilliant heroes, dastardly villains, amazing vocals and a show chock full of both classic and new songs that audiences will want to sing along to – from Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, George Ezra’s Shotgun to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero and The Jackson 5’s I Want You Back.  

There are great dance routines, amazing costumes and – for the first time at The Epstein Theatre – a fab new interactive 3D scene that, quite literally, makes the action jump right off the stage. 

Producer and Director Chantelle Nolan said: “We’ve had an amazing press launch and audience reaction to the show has been fabulous.  The audiences and cast are having a fantastic time.  This Christmas we’re looking forward to entertaining people from all over Merseyside with the greatest rags to riches story of them all!”

Cinderella runs daily (except Christmas Day) at the Epstein Theatre until Sunday 5 January 2020.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

Fairy Powered Productions  ★★★★★
“An evening of pure, unfiltered joy.”

Writebase 9/10

“An outstanding cast, a beyond-brilliant script and unique special effects, what more could you possibly want for your festive family night out at the theatre?”

Opening Night ★★★★

“A great fun, family show, with a wonderful ensemble cast, that will have you grinning throughout.”

Good News Liverpool ★★★★

“Cinderella has a great deal of charm and style, and it certainly hits the target.”

LISTING INFORMATION

Cinderella

Date: Running until Sun 5 Jan ‘20
Time: Various Times

Tickets: From £11

SPECIAL OFFER: All tickets £16 on selected performances -10-19 December (10.30am), 20 Dec (1pm), 1 Jan (2pm), 13 Dec (7pm). 20 Dec (6.30pm), 26 Dec (5.30pm).  All tickets £15* -evening performances 11, 12, 18, 19 Dec, 5 Jan. 
* PLEASE NOTE:  There are also a limited number of £11 tickets available for these performances.

Relaxed Performance: Sat 14 Dec, 10.30am

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk * or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 12pm – 6pm Monday – Saturday (closed Sun).

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join our mailing list. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
 

TICKETS FOR CHRISTMAS 2020 GO ON SALE ON MONDAY 16 DECEMBER 2019

Audiences will be queuing up online at www.thursford.com/christmas-spectacular from 09.30 next Monday 16th December 2019 to purchase their tickets for next year’s Thursford Christmas Spectacular with more performances than ever before going on sale for the 2020 run of the nation’s most lavish Christmas show.

“This is, quite literally, as spectacular as it gets”
Daily Telegraph

This year’s sold-out and award-winning production, which continues performances through until Monday 23rd December, has already been seen by 115,000 visitors from all over the world (including guests from as far as Australia) who have flocked to the tiny Norfolk village for this annual festive treat. 

Hosted by Britain’s Got Talent finalist comedian and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, the 2019 production of this glittering rhinestone and tinsel-packed variety show has delighted audiences with Cyr wheel specialist Billy George, international roller skating double act Royer and Emelie, leading theatre organist Phil Kelsall dazzling audiences on The Mighty Wurlitzer alongside the company of over 120 dancers, singers and musicians performing show-tunes, chart toppers, rock ‘n’ roll favourites, Irish-dancing, the Can Can and classic Christmas carols.

Since opening its doors in 1977, the family-run Thursford Christmas Spectacular has entertained visitors of all ages from across the globe and become one of Europe’s biggest Christmas shows.

Nestled in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, the truly unique Thursford Collection also includes Santa’s Magical Journey, an enchanted trip for children and grandchildren through a festive fantasy land to meet Father Christmas and the Steam Engine Museum, the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. The Garden Pavilion transforms into a festive celebration of cafés, restaurant, bar, and shopping village, home to the famous Christmas Shop and pantry; and the luxurious, award-winning bed and breakfast Holly Lodge is just a 3 minute walk away. 

DLAP ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENTS

“THE WEDDING SINGER”

STARRING

KEVIN CLIFTON

AS ‘ROBBIE HART’

AT TROUBADOUR WEMBLEY PARK THEATRE

FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN

FROM 30 JANUARY – 1 MARCH 2020

DLAP Entertainment is delighted to announce “THE WEDDING SINGER” starring Kevin Clifton will play a strictly limited season at the newly opened Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from Thursday 30 January until Sunday 1 March 2020. Further casting to be announced.

Based on the 1998 Hollywood Blockbuster film of the same name starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, “THE WEDDING SINGER” features music from the Tony Award nominated composer of ‘Elf the Musical’ and ‘The Prom’ Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Begeulin and a book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.

After thrilling audiences in the UK tour of ‘Rock of Ages’this year Kevin Clifton will return to the stage to play ‘Robbie Hart’ in “THE WEDDING SINGER” in 2020. Kevin Clifton is an international Ballroom and Latin dancer and has won numerous titles, including the British Latin Championships four times. He is best known as a Pro Dancer on BBC One’s, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and is the only pro dancer to ever dance in four consecutive finals. Kevin is the current reigning champion having won with Stacey Dooley in 2018. He made his musical theatre debut in ‘Dirty Dancing the Musical’ at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End and went on to become a principle dancer in Burn The Floor Dance Company performing in the West End, on Broadway and across the world. 

It’s 1985. Hair is huge, greed is good and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. When his own fiancée dumps him at the altar a seriously bummed out Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Can sweet natured Julia and her best friend Holly lure Robbie out of the dumpster and back into the limelight? Or is he going to see her head off down the aisle with Wall Street bad boy Glenn?

“THE WEDDING SINGER” has a book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Begeulin. It is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, designed by Francis O’Connor, lighting design is by Ben Cracknell, sound design is by Ben Harrison, musical supervision is by Sarah Travis, orchestration is by George Dyer and Casting Director is Jim Arnold CDG.

Bristol Hippodrome – until 5 January 2020

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

4****

Bursting into Bristol, comes Dick Whittington desperately searching for his streets paved with gold!

Whether you are 1 or 101, this is the show for you! Panto is a yearly tradition that this year, has exceeded all expectations and will bring a smile to your face from the opening beat. Ian Talbot’s Dick Whittington is superb and not to be missed this year.

As our titular character, Shane Richie brings Dick to light and does he do a good job? OH YES HE DOES! He commanded the stage with such ease and grace, it was an absolute pleasure to see him swell with pride when the audience joined in. As a Panto person myself, having performed in many over the years, I was taken aback at the smooth and effortless acting and slapstick Richie conveyed. At one point, I was aghast at him falling through the backdrop and his incredible acting had me fooled! Playing the audience was his strength, he obliterated and completely smashed the fourth wall into oblivion and really felt like he was talking individually to you!

Playing against Richie was Peter Piper as Captain Cockles and what a pair these are. The camaraderie and rapport these two have is exquisite and was so joyful to see them break character and guffaw at each other’s mistakes. Both Richie and Piper have brilliant singing voices and got the audience singing and dancing along so easily-a really fabulous cast.

Alternatively, Queen Rat (Jennie Dale) was brilliant at audience hype and it was lovely to hear the theatre adorned with Boo’s and Hisses from the thousands of children in the auditorium.David O’Reilley and Christine Tucker as Sarah the Cook and Alice Fitzwarren were also great, the traditional Dame and Principal Girl carrying the plot along brilliantly. With the Bristol School of Dancing, The Acromaniacs and Blair Cameron as Kitty, the dancing and acrobatics that graced the stage were second to none and jaw dropping.

Technically, this was a feast for the eyes. With rats that booked over the front row and a double-decker bus that flew above our heads, this was stunning and had me mesmerised.

Truly, Shane Richie has earned his spot in Panto history and I would love to see him again. He was absolutely stellar and a real natural – I was more than impressed! This is definitely a staple in your family’s Christmas build up and I would urge you to book tickets quickly; I can see this show selling out very swiftly – the calibre of acting, singing and audience inclusion is phenomenal!!