Would it be Christmas without a visit to the Pantomime? Oh no it wouldn’t! And would it be a pantomime if it weren’t the legendary Nottingham Playhouse Pantomime written and directed by artistic director Adam Penford? Oh no it wouldn’t! (Ok – enough already!). This year’s panto is my all-time favourite Jack And The Beanstalk and promises to be a giant of a show that reaches new heights of comedy entertainment. 

As we weave our way through the city centre to reach the Playhouse, my ever faithful plus one and I are struck by how bustling the streets are with Christmas shoppers and friends and colleagues meeting up for Christmas Dos. It’s dark and cold out, but we’ve every confidence that our evening’s entertainment will be anything but. We are proven right as soon as we enter the auditorium because we are absolutely blown away by the stunningly spectacular set – the Playhouse elves, under the direction of designer Cleo Pettitt, have clearly been busy and what a tremendously cheering impact the overall effect makes.  The backcloths are works of art and every corner of the stage is a feast for the eyes. This is all brought to life in no small part by Tim Mitchell’s lighting design – the stage is beautifully lit right from the offset. Before long, the show opens with a song and dance routine by the super talented Young Company (Team Biggins are on tonight) with choreography by Rosanna Bates that really warms the cockles. This press night audience is immediately transported to Pantoland and the dark drabness outside immediately vanishes from our memories as if in a puff of smoke!

Leading the cast is John Elkington as the sartorially spectacular Dame Daisy Trott. Elkington is pantomime perfection – he walks the line beautifully between performing the piece straight down the line for the kids, whilst sprinkling oodles of gloriously acerbic asides straight through the fourth wall to the adults. The innuendo flows faster than the milk from Pat the cow (performed wonderfully by Alice Redmond as the butt of many a bovine themed joke) – just what we hoped for. Dame Daisy’s costumes (carefully curated by Emilie Carter) are to die for and there are some magnificent bits of audience participation with comedy that is timed to perfection. Elkington’s performance is worth the ticket price alone.

Our hero of the piece is the eponymous Jack played by Finton Flynn. Flynn gives a sweet and joy filled performance as Jack who the kids absolutely love. He can really dance! Aided and abetted by love interest Jill (Jewelle Hutchinson) – who has really mastered the art of the withering look out to the audience – and Bradley Judge is a charmingly cheeky Silly Billy. Jack bravely climbs the beanstalk to discover a land above the clouds, where a ferocious giant lurks in his castle. And this is no ordinary giant, for it is a knight of the realm! The one and only Sir Ian McKellen lends his dulcet tones to Giant Blunderbore, clearly lapping up every last word. Will Jack outwit the giant and leave with his magic talking harp (voiced by Julie Hesmondhalgh)? And can he bag the golden egg-laying goose that will change his family’s fortunes forever? Well, not if the villainous Fleshcreep (Tom Hopcroft) has anything to do with it! Hopcroft revels in giving us the completely believable, if a little self-doubting, baddie of the evening. We all love to hate him!

Thank heavens for the Fairy Godmother (Caroline Parker) who saves the day sweetly sprinkling her magic in a warm embrace of a performance that has just an edge of charming clumsy about it.

This cast work together perfectly, like a well-oiled machine. It is a truly ensemble piece of theatre and they manage to make it all look completely effortless (which of course it very much is not)!

It’s always magnificent to hear a live band at the theatre and this evening is no exception – the musical contributions are excellent, incidentally accentuating the comedy and underscoring the drama, as well as supporting the cast and audience in a glorious sing-a-long sing song. Musical Director ‘Uncle’ Johnny Morton is clearly having a marvellous time on the podium.

This production hits all the right notes in every respect – there is everything you could hope for in a pantomime – audience participation aplenty, pitch perfect performances, sublime slapstick and eye watering innuendo. Oh yes there is! If you want to see an example of proper pantomime go and see this one. If you’re a regular attendee, I promise you’ll  not be disappointed. It’ll leave you feeling sky high!

Jack And The Beanstalk – sponsored by Nottingham City Transport and playing at Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 18^th January 2025. Captioned, Audio Described, BSL, Relaxed and Dementia Friendly performances also available.