London pantomime round-up 2022: Cinderella, Robin Hood and more

“Pantomime returns full throttle”

Long ReviewsDec 12, 2022Various, London

Robin Hood at Greenwich Theatre-73.jpg

Paul Vale

Paul has been writing for The Stage since 1998 as a critic and feature writer. He is also part of The Stage's Edinburgh Fringe review team.

Glittering spectacle, superb singing, delicious invention and lots of laughs in an enjoyable variety of panto offerings

Pantomime has returned full throttle this year, with productions throughout the country vying for audiences amid a cost-of-living crisis. Ticket pricing and production values may vary from venue to venue, but it’s worth remembering that many theatres rely on their Christmas show to bolster income and support other productions over the following year. Pantomime is an essential part of the theatrical ecosystem, which explains why some producers can be nervous about change.

In Greenwich, the task of writing the annual pantomime has been handed over, after more than 15 years, to its regular bad-guy Anthony Spargo. Robin Hood (Greenwich Theatre, November 24 to January 8, ★★★), with its hero robbing the rich and giving to the poor, provides plenty of fuel for prescient jokes. But Matt Aston’s production is less about politics and more about fun. It’s a jolly old comedy-romp in the Greenwood, with David Breeds’ fresh-faced Robin doing his best to thwart the wicked machinations of Spargo’s dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham.

As author, Spargo has not paid too much attention to folklore, instead stripping the story down to its basics. Amy Bastani’s Marion is braver and far more resourceful than Robin; Phil Sealey’s buoyant dame Little Joan dominates the comedy; and Louise Cielecki is hilarious as a lovable but useless guard-dog.

What makes this show stand out, though, are the songs and its small company of great singers led by musical director Steve Markwick. With numbers as diverse as Live and Let Die, Mr Blue Sky and Total Eclipse of the Heart, it’s no wonder this modest pantomime has proved so popular over the years.

Related to this Review

From diversity to sustainability, panto is leading the way

Scottish pantomime round-up: Rab Hood and the Sheriff of Shettleston (Glasgow), Maw Goose (Stirling), Mother Goose (Livingston)

Top 10 UK pantomimes to see this Christmas, 2022

Ruthie Henshall in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at New Wimbledon Theatre, London

Across town, the first thing you notice about Jonathan Kiley’s staging of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (New Wimbledon Theatre, December 3 to 31, ★★★★) is the cast: a veritable cavalcade of musical theatre alumni – from Brenda Edwards’ belting Spirit of Pantomime to Ruthie Henshall’s dastardly diva Queen Lucretia. Not to mention Lee Mead, who makes a rather dashing Prince Lee, lampooning his self-image with a rousing chorus of I Close My Eyes from the musical that made him a star.

This is a large, strong cast delivering a glittering, old-school pantomime. With so many great voices on stage, it’s a shame that the song choices are so lacklustre. The Pantoland song reprised throughout the show may be soulfully styled by Edwards, but frankly, it’s a bit of a dirge.

Still, some classics are lifted by a disco underscore, and with Paul Robinson’s choreography, there’s more than a hint of a seaside special about the production. That is enhanced by the presence of John Archer, rasping his way through some priceless comedy magic routines, and a lovable Matthew Kelly as a cheerfully gurning Nelly Night nurse.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Richmond Theatre, London. Photo: Craig Sugden

If Wimbledon is all about the singers this year, then Richmond is all about the spectacle. The 2019 London Palladium production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Richmond Theatre, December 3 to 31, ★★★), directed here by Matt Slack, has been shrink-wrapped for the south west London venue, losing none of its visual impact. Even by pantomime standards, the story is incredibly thin, but the circus setting is an ideal opportunity to showcase Mike Coltman’s sumptuous costume designs, along with the talents of magician Philip Hitchcock and juggler Gordon Marquez.

It’s not just the speciality acts that deliver the thrills, though, as Matt Baker returns to the role of Joey the Clown. The One Show presenter makes an affable clown who also wins the heart of Tamara Morgan’s winsome Goldilocks. Baker unicycles, juggles and dabbles with a diabolo, but it’s his tightrope walk that provides a genuine moment of suspense. There’s traditional comedy, too, from veteran dame Nigel Ellacott – resplendent in an array of whimsical self-made frocks – and Phil Walker as a rather superfluous Ringmaster.

Ben Stock and Neal Wright in Cinderella at New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Little Red Robin Hood at the Battersea Arts Centre, London. Photo: Ali Wright

Cinderella (New Victoria Theatre, Woking, December 2 to 31, ★★★) is often considered the most magical of all pantomimes, and producers Crossroads Pantomimes lavish some exciting special effects on this production directed by Kathryn Rooney. Flying fairies, magical transformations and cute Shetland ponies all feature. But if there’s a problem here, it’s with its star, Brian Conley. As Buttons, the comedian and musical theatre star dominates the show. The Baron and Wicked Stepmother have been erased, and even though regular team Ben Stock and Neal Wright won the Best Ugly Sisters gong at the 2018 Pantomime Awards, they barely get a look-in: not even to try on the glass slipper. Thankfully, Sarah Vaughan’s perky Cinderella has a bit more character than Wimbledon’s Snow White or Richmond’s Goldilocks. Frankly, she needs it to stand her ground against the onslaught of Conley’s endless schoolboy antics. Yet no matter how Conley distorts and undermines the narrative, he’s utterly in command of his audience, and they clearly love it. The show could easily be retitled Buttons: The Pantomime, and make a lot more sense.

Meanwhile, at Battersea Arts Centre, award-winning producers Sleeping Trees and Splendid Productions once again team up to create a mash-up of two classic pantomime stories. The premise of the show is that this would have been the biggest, most extravagant panto in all the land – but, sadly, the company has been caught up in rail disruption, so Little Red Robin Hood (December 6 to January 8, ★★★★) has to be performed by two enthusiastic ushers and an unsuspecting delivery man.

Here, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham has imprisoned the ageing Robin Hood before he can distribute his gifts to the poor. Little Red battles the Wolf and her mother to rescue Robin and usurp the Sheriff. Fortunately, her Grandmother – who happens to be international superstar Cher – drops in to help her out. There is so much love, warmth and invention here in the writing, design and, particularly, the performances from Miya James and Simone Cornelius. Their enthusiasm is infectious, but it’s Sam Rix as the hapless delivery driver, slowly warming to his new career as both villain and Cher, who really revs up the appeal of Kerry Frampton’s production.

Aside from generating laughter, the team is teaching young audiences the mechanics of pantomime in all its glory: why we boo and cheer and join in, how gloriously bonkers the genre can be, and how stories can be told in different ways. That’s something many pantomimes around the country could learn from.

Robin Hood
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Dates: November 24-January 8, PN November 27
Author: Anthony Spargo
Director: Matt Aston
Design: Judith Croft (set/costume), Mark Jonathan (lighting), Nico Menghini (sound)
Musical director: Steve Markwick
Choreographer: Nancy Kettle
Technical: Caz Hampton (production manager), Maddie Whiffin (company stage manager)
Cast: Anthony Spargo, Phil Sealey, David Breeds, Martin Johnston, Amy Bastani, Louise Gielecki
Producer: James Haddrell, Simon Francis, Greenwich Theatre

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre, London
Dates: December 3-31, PN December 6
Author: Alan McHugh
Director: Jonathan Kiley
Design: Richard G Jones (lighting), Richard Brooker (sound), The Twins FX (special effects), Duncan McLean (video)
Musical director: Joe Morley
Choreographer: Paul Robinson
Technical: James Henshaw (production manager), Richard Llewelyn (company stage manager)
Cast includes: Ruthie Henshall, Brenda Edwards, Lee Mead, Matthew Kelly, Dick & Dom, John Archer, Hanna Lowther
Producer: Crossroads Pantomimes

Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Venue: Richmond Theatre, London
Dates: December 3-31, PN December 7
Author: Alan McHugh
Director: Matt Slack
Design: Ian Westbrook (set), Mike Coltman, Teresa Nalton (costume), Andrew Exeter (lighting), Ollie Durrant (sound), The Twins FX (special effects)
Musical director: Pierce Tee
Choreographer: Gerry Zuccarello
Technical: Dan Cauldwell (production manager), Jonathan Gosling (company stage manager)
Cast includes: Matt Baker, Jessica Martin, Nigel Ellacott, Phil Walker, Tamara Morgan, Lucy Conley, Phil Hitchcock, Gordon Marquez
Producer: Crossroads Pantomimes

Cinderella
Venue: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Dates: December 2-31, PN December 6
Author: Michael Harrison, Brian Conley
Director: Kathryn Rooney
Design: Mike Coltman (costume), Chris Winn (lighting), Olly Steel (sound), The Twins FX (special effects)
Musical director: David Lane
Choreographer: Jane McMurtrie
Technical: Laura McCann (production manager), Marcus Watson (company stage manager)
Cast includes: Brian Conley, Sarah Vaughan, Jenny Gayner, Neal Wright, Ben Stock, Steve Leeds, Samuel Wilson-Freeman
Producer: Crossroads Pantomimes

Little Red Robin Hood
Venue: Battersea Arts Centre, London
Dates: December 6-January 8, PN December 8
Author: Ben Hales, James Dunnell-Smith, John Woodburn, Joshua George Smith, Alice Carter, Kerry Frampton
Director: Kerry Frampton
Design: Emily Bestow (set/costume), Charly Dunford (lighting), Ben Hales (sound), Jodie Powell, Ellie Farrow (props)
Musical director: Ben Hales
Technical: Nikki Green (stage manager), Banu Kurc (technical operator)
Cast: Miya James, Sam Rix, Simone Cornelius
Producer: Battersea Arts Centre, Sleeping Trees, Splendid Productions