6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 21, 2022 19:36:15 GMT
Any sign of the free National Lottery tickets like they had last year? I am assuming no because I think panto sales are very strong this year.
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 23, 2022 15:28:30 GMT
Please forgive my ignorance, but how does a rock 'n' roll panto differ from the more traditional version? I'm sure I'm not the only TB member who would like to know. 🙂
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Nov 24, 2022 9:13:39 GMT
Having never been to any of the Liverpool Everyman's Rock and Roll Panto shows before, this will be rectified on Friday after booking a front row seat for the first preview. They've always been brilliant but I was shocked to read last night that the new Artistic Director at the Everyman & Playhouse told the usual freelance writing team in the summer that they wouldn't be using them for this year's panto. They've written the rock and roll panto at the Everyman for the past 19 years and won two panto awards for their winter 2021 production of Robin Hood. I'm still looking forward to seeing the show on Monday but the new creative team have big shoes to fill! TallPaul the rock and roll pantos tend to be more of a jukebox musical than traditional pantomimes with lots more songs. The other big difference is that the company are usually all actor musicians. That's certainly the case with the rock and roll pantos at the Liverpool Everyman and City Varieties in Leeds where the cast perform all the music live on stage. I love the eclectic song choices in amongst the classic rock and roll numbers. I recall at City Varieties last year, Beauty was serenaded with Sweet Child of Mine on arrival at the Beast's castle! I think they might be less traditional in their storytelling too, although I don't think that's exclusive to the rock and roll genre. The City Varieties panto last year took plenty of liberties with the traditional Beauty and the Beast story but it was still grounded in the recognisable tale. The Everyman panto, on the other hand, has tended to diverge from the original a lot more. I think the only connection to Robin Hood in last year's Everyman panto was one of the characters happened to have that name!
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 25, 2022 10:59:44 GMT
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3,070 posts
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Post by david on Nov 26, 2022 11:17:09 GMT
My first ever trip to the Liverpool Everyman's Rock and Roll Panto last night so I had no idea what to expect but I really enjoyed it. With this year being Red Riding Hood, the main story was there with a few local references chucked in for good measure. Being sat on the front row meant that I didn't escape from being splashed several times from the cast using water pistols during the show which added to the fun.
As an actor-musician production, I thought the cast were really good performing the mix of rock and pop songs and all the jokes seemed to land with the audience. There was plenty of jokes definitely aimed at us adults as well as stuff to keep the kids entertained. As with all panto shows, there was plenty of audience participation with clapping along, dancing and usual panto call backs "He's behind You" stuff.
Overall, I'd certainly book again for future pantos. It's harmless fun and a nice way to kick off the festive season.
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Nov 29, 2022 8:58:40 GMT
I saw the Liverpool Everyman rock and roll panto last night.
The first surprise was that this year's production of Red Riding Hood is written by Peter Rowe, the same writer as the rock and roll pantos at City Varieties in Leeds. I did miss a bit of the zaniness of the previous creative team but it's still a very entertaining show with much of the Everyman panto magic in-tact.
It's certainly a fantastic showcase for the cast who are all singing, dancing, multi-roling and playing a variety of instruments for the near three-hour duration. It's very much an ensemble effort, from our heroine Maisy Merry (Red Riding Hood) to the evil Lady Lucille De Ville and her hapless sidekicks Bodgit and Dodgit. Not forgetting Adam Yeast, as charming as ever as Ruffles, in his 20th year at the Everyman.
A great way to start the festive season? Oh yes it is!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 30, 2022 21:15:58 GMT
Anyone else been to the Oxford Playhouse Cinderella yet?
I went to this evening's press night and really don't know what to make of it...
Who knew that Dandina was the central character?
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Post by ruthieh on Dec 2, 2022 8:08:31 GMT
Anyone else been to the Oxford Playhouse Cinderella yet? I went to this evening's press night and really don't know what to make of it... Who new that Dandina was the central character? I was there the same night, with a colleague and my teenage daughter and her friend…proof is in the pudding. We all loved it! I liked the script, and the fact they tried to do something a bit different but still keeping traditional panto elements. I do love the Playhouse though!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 2, 2022 9:21:01 GMT
I loved the energy, the kids company in particular, the music was strong
But the script just didn't work for me. I wanted more Cinderella as she should be at the heart of the story.
The video game sequence was very strange.
Innovation is to be encouraged but it has to be better than the original otherwise it is change for the sake of it.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 5, 2022 12:20:53 GMT
Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire is an absolute riot! Clive Rowe is the doyenne of dames, lots of adlibbing and teasing his castmates.
Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer.
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Post by kathryn on Dec 5, 2022 21:15:21 GMT
Saw Mother Goose at Hackney on Saturday, and I don’t know if I am just in a Scrooge mood, but I think I'm kinda over the Hackney Panto now.
I swear, it’s almost exactly the same every year.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 5, 2022 23:39:44 GMT
I swear, it’s almost exactly the same every year. Isn't that pretty much panto in a nutshell?
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Dec 6, 2022 1:49:50 GMT
Already seen Mother Goose at Hackney Empire, Clive Rowe never disappoints.
Snow White at Wimbledon this Wednesday (booked for the great cast so very disappointed it's so short!), then Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Canterbury on Thursday, cos Carrie HF is a favourite of mine.
Finally Palladium's Jack & the Beanstalk next week.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Dec 6, 2022 1:56:54 GMT
Any sign of the free National Lottery tickets like they had last year? I am assuming no because I think panto sales are very strong this year. They're offering Love Actually at cinemas on December 23rd instead. I held off booking the Palladium panto in the hope of a repeat of last year's offer and by the time I was fairly sure it wasn't happening most 2022 performances were almost sold out.
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6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 6, 2022 2:25:57 GMT
Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire is an absolute riot! Clive Rowe is the doyenne of dames, lots of adlibbing and teasing his castmates. Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. How's Brenda Edwards, Matthew Kelly and Lee Mead?
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Post by kathryn on Dec 6, 2022 11:51:39 GMT
I swear, it’s almost exactly the same every year. Isn't that pretty much panto in a nutshell? Sure, but I think if I Panto next year I’ll try somewhere else.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 6, 2022 14:11:30 GMT
Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire is an absolute riot! Clive Rowe is the doyenne of dames, lots of adlibbing and teasing his castmates. Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. How's Brenda Edwards, Matthew Kelly and Lee Mead? Kelly is wonderful but wasted in a very, very small part. Edwards has a belting set of pipes and it was lovely seeing Mead sing Joseph.
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Post by fiyero on Dec 6, 2022 16:24:02 GMT
Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. That sounds very short! glad we are near the front so can take it all in. Sounds like we will be back to the hotel nice and early!
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Dec 6, 2022 22:47:38 GMT
Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre panto (Goldilocks and The Three Bears) has an interesting line up this year: Jason Donovan, Fae Brooke, and Sooty. Tbh I’m tempted to go for Sooty alone (who seems to have become a bit of a long-term resident at the Mayflower, at least in panto season)
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Post by CG on the loose on Dec 7, 2022 1:09:20 GMT
Snow White at Wimbledon is much more traditional. Very short though, about forty minutes each half. Lot of fun though, particularly Dick and Dom (Yes I got to relive my childhood by screaming BOGIES! at the top of my voice along with the rest of the audience!). Ruthie Henshall was deliciously evil and I loved magician John Archer. That sounds very short! glad we are near the front so can take it all in. Sounds like we will be back to the hotel nice and early! I saw it at the weekend, think it was closer to 50 mins each half, so 2 hours all in, which was fine for me! I do love panto, but there's nearly always something that I could happily fast forward - not so, though, with this fabulous cast. I thought it a really well-balanced production that gives everyone their time to shine. Quite traditional, as talkingheads says, no big FX, lots of silliness, and lots of chances to hear all that wonderful vocal power.
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Post by theatreian on Dec 8, 2022 23:41:35 GMT
Saw Beauty and The Beast in Malvern tonight on their opening night. Very entertaining with some Les mis and Love Never Dies tunes. Jokes largely landed and a good reception from the audience.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 10, 2022 1:25:32 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre.
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6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 10, 2022 1:37:09 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre. Is the theatre New and related to tennis in anyway? I have noticed panto sales were very strong this year hence why there was no need to repeat the Lottery scheme. The Bristol Hippodrome for example has sold very well and that's a 2000 plus theatre.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 10, 2022 21:42:14 GMT
I saw Berwick Kaler's annual rubbish in York today. There is no better panto cast in the country. I hurt from laughing, Berwick always adlibbing and there is such genuine love that eminates from actor to audience and vice versa. David Leonard is a superb villain.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 11, 2022 10:13:17 GMT
To give a glimmer of hope during the cost of living crisis, the panto I am on (commuter belt London theatre, over 1000 seats) has confirmed we have now sold more tickets than any other panto at the venue previously, which given we run until the new year is quite impressive. Money may be tight for most but people are still willing to put their hand in their pocket for live theatre. Is the theatre New and related to tennis in anyway? I have noticed panto sales were very strong this year hence why there was no need to repeat the Lottery scheme. The Bristol Hippodrome for example has sold very well and that's a 2000 plus theatre. Nope.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 12, 2022 4:51:40 GMT
If anyone could advise me of a good panto in the London area (preferably to the south-west/west for ease of travel), I'd be grateful, please, though not thinking of anywhere huge or in the West End. Having seen the Yvonne Arnaud one a couple of years ago after years of almost never going to panto, I quite enjoyed it but when I rebooked for last year, hoping for a similar experience, it seemed like more of the same, only worse, and the only review I've so far seen for their current one is discouraging.
Last year a friend raved about the Woking panto, though she'd gone in a large family group, ie with children. Some years ago I also saw Cinderella in Wimbledon which was fine, but again, not enjoyable enough to make me rush to book another one the following year and of course, so much depends on the individual production.
Bearing in mind train and tube strikes, even aiming for somewhere like Kingston/Richmond/Wimbledon/Woking is ambitious but if anyone can recommend this year's panto at any of those or nearby, I'd be grateful, please.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 12, 2022 9:06:34 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes.
On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet?
Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length.
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 12, 2022 12:00:02 GMT
There's Peter Pan in Crawley, showgirl. I haven't seen it, obviously, but Evolution has a good reputation.
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 12, 2022 13:47:56 GMT
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. The Legend of Robin Hood. Really beautiful and unusual theatre Grade 1 listed building which is very 'acoustically lively' i.e. loud when all the Kids participate. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_Royal,_Bury_St_Edmunds The plot is a very light touch feminist update. - spoiler alert it seems the Legend is just that. Girlpower wins out! Sadly don't have a programme so can't big up the splendid actors who played the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham or the "Fairy Godmotherish" Maid Marion. I was part of large group and, despite the fact I don't much care for Panto I have to admit, the business is excellent and the kids are guaranteed a good time.
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Post by bimse on Dec 12, 2022 16:33:49 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes. On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet? Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length. A good friend has seen Goldilocks in Richmond, and raved about it. Gets good reviews as well. It’s not exactly a traditional panto as such but it has a Dame role in the very capable hands of Nigel Ellacott, who incidentally writes a blog each year on www.it’s-behind-you.com which is always well worth reading , and gives details and photos of the production .
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