It is the last week of the Sleeping Beauty run. 69 shows down and 7 shows left to go. There’s been tears and laughter, slips and spills and a whole lot of comedy…and that’s just backstage.

Sleeping Beauty‘s opening night on Fri 29 Nov (way back when) was met with resounding applause, delighted children and a rush of adrenaline for all involved. This colourful production has been our best selling pantomime to date and it’s clear why when reading the reviews. From critics to audience members, the overwhelmingly positive comments and reviews have pushed the cast to keep performing, day after day and night after night. Check out some of the reviews below!

Nanny Fanny (Chris Clarkson) and Grub (Oliver Mawdsley)

‘Together, the two of them power the show with classic panto routines – a sequence in which they rehash the Twelve Days of Christmas, flinging toilet rolls into the audience and liberally soaking them with water pistols is probably the best panto moment I’ve seen this year (and I’ve seen a lot)‘

★★★★ The Stage

(Read the full article here)

 

Rupert (Joey Warne) and Young Chorus

Rupert (Joey Warne), Fairy Fortune (Elin Llwyd), Grub (Oliver Mawdsley) and Young Chorus

 

‘The cast was made up of professionals and the theatre’s Youth Chorus, who displayed so much talent and professionalism themselves that it’s hard to believe they weren’t professionals too’

Polka-Dot Pages

(Read the full article here)

 

Nanny Fanny (Chris Clarkson), King Edmund (Neil Stewart), Grub (Oliver Mawdsley), Rupert (Joey Warne) and Young Chorus

 

‘A massive sugar-rush of entertainment for all ages.’

Bury Free Press

(Read the full article here)

 

Fairy Fortune (Elin Llywd)

 

‘Full of fun, frolics, laughter and song plus fast-paced dance routines and a bit of a soaking for the audience – all the ingredients for a successful seasonal panto.’

East Anglian Daily Times

(Read the full article here)

 

Carabosse (Britt Lenting)

 

‘From a comedy double act to a wicked and extraordinarily believable bad fairy and from the fairytale romance between a prince and princess to the bizarre bugle-blowing of a camp, royal courtier, it has you up and down in your panto seat.’

East Anglian Daily Times

(Read the full article here)

 

‘The baddy in the form of the Carabosse performed with evil and spirited enthusiasm by Britt Lenting had her own ideas. Nevertheless Britt just wooed the audience despite their customary boos.’

TheatreWorld Internet Magazine

(Read the full article here)

 

Carabosse (Britt Lenting) and Princess Aurora (Jasmine Hackett)

 

‘The excellent show was seamless and the casting first class and you leave the theatre being fully fired up for Christmas.’

TheatreWorld Internet Magazine

(Read the full article here)

 

Prince Florin (Joseph Connor) and Young Chorus

 

‘Sleeping Beauty was lovely – funny, musical and spectacular. You must go and see it.’

Radio West Suffolk

 

Princess Aurora (Jasmine Hackett) and King Edmund (Neil Stewart)

 

‘People of all ages were gathered at the performance, and everybody left with a smile on their face. It really was a magical night.’

Polka-Dot Pages

(Read the full article here)

 

‘The wonderful Britt Lenting as the formidible and outright devilish Carabosse, Fairy Fortune’s sister, whose outrageous laugh echoes around the auditorium. She is the undoubted star of the show in my eyes with her wonderful portrayal of an evil, yet deep down kind, yet bad fairy.’

East Anglian Daily Times

(Read the full article here)

 

King Edmund (Neil Stewart), Carabosse (Britt Lenting), Nanny Fanny (Chris Clarkson), Princess Aurora (Jasmine Hackett) and Young Chorus

 

Young Chorus

 

‘The show serves up a sparkling festive treat, which fizzes with laughs, music and crowd-pleasing anarchy (caution – you may get wet).’

Bury Free Press

(Read the full article here)

Princess Aurora (Jasmine Hackett) and Prince Florin (Joseph Connor)

Fairy Fortune (Elin Llwyd), King Edmund (Neil Stewart) and Prince Florin (Joseph Connor)

 

‘The romance comes in the shape of song and dance experts Jasmine Hackett, as Princess Aurora, and Joseph Conner, as Prince Florin, whose duet of Ed Sheerin’s hit song “Perfect” is absolutely stunning along with their rendition of Gloria Estefan’s “Conga” as they get the cast to “shake their bodies and do the conga, I know you can’t control yourself any longer.”’

East Anglian Daily Times

(Read the full article here)

 

Grub (Oliver Mawdsley), Princess Aurora (Jasmine Hackett), Prince Florin (Joseph Connor), Nanny Fanny (Chris Clarkson) and Young Chorus

 

‘Pantomimes don’t come much lovelier than writer Chris Hannon and director Karen Simpson’s Sleeping Beauty.’

★★★★ The Stage

(Read the full article here)

 

Overall, the feedback from Sleeping Beauty has been overwhelmingly positive and the cast and crew of the show have had a ball of a time. But as one pantomime ends, another starts its journey. Our 2019-20 pantomime is now on sale and yet again we have the magical pairing of writer Chris Hannon and director Karen Simpson! Book your tickets for Peter Pan now and join us on our adventure to Neverland…second star to the right and straight on ’till morning!