Broadway & International

Training & Drama Schools

Backstage & Technical

Opera

Dance

West End

Musical Theatre

Pantomime

Edinburgh Fringe

Obituaries & Archive

NPO 2023-26

Awards

Jobs & Auditions

Hot Topics

Acting & Performance

Shakespeare

Mother Goose review

“A solid gold hit”

ReviewsDec 12, 2022by Paul ValeTheatre Royal, Brighton

Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Ian McKellen and John Bishop in Mother Goose at Theatre Royal Brighton. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Ian McKellen and John Bishop in Mother Goose at Theatre Royal Brighton. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Ian McKellen exudes warmth and good humour in the title role of a pantomime that combines flawless writing and excellent design with matchless performances

Support The Stage by registering or subscribing

To continue reading this article you must be logged in.

Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.

OR

Or subscribe today and get unlimited access to thestage.co.uk.

Paul Vale

Paul Vale

More from this Author

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Pantomime round-up two: Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and more

Robin Hood review

More on this topic

Hotel guest book reveals historic details of Mayflower Theatre's past

Hotel guest book reveals historic details of Mayflower Theatre's past

News by Katie Chambers

Road Show review

Road Show review

Reviews by Tom WickerUpstairs at the Gatehouse, London

The Stage Awards 2025 shortlist: Community Award

The Stage Awards 2025 shortlist: Community Award

Features by The Stage

Hamlet, December 19, 2024

Hamlet, December 19, 2024

Cartoons by Harry Venning

More Reviews

Latest
Most Read

Road Show review

Road Show review

Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

Almeida Theatre, London

The Invention of Love review

The Invention of Love review

Hampstead Theatre, London

Aspects of Love review

Aspects of Love review

Lyric Theatre, London

King Lear review

King Lear review

Wyndham's Theatre, London

Staged

Staged

BBC One

Sunset Boulevard review

Sunset Boulevard review

Savoy Theatre, London

Recommended for you

Hotel guest book reveals historic details of Mayflower Theatre's past

Hotel guest book reveals historic details of Mayflower Theatre's past

News by Katie Chambers

Road Show review

Road Show review

Reviews by Tom WickerUpstairs at the Gatehouse, London

The Stage Awards 2025 shortlist: Community Award

The Stage Awards 2025 shortlist: Community Award

Features by The Stage

Hamlet, December 19, 2024

Hamlet, December 19, 2024

Cartoons by Harry Venning

Paul Vale

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.

More from this author

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Pantomime round-up two: Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and more

Robin Hood review

Reviews

Latest
Most Read

Road Show review

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

The Invention of Love review

Jeeves Takes Charge review

La Bohème review

Robin Hood review

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

The Producers review

The Little Foxes review

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 review

Twelfth Night review

Jobs

Brand Designer (parental lea...

City: London Salary: Competitive

Senior Electrics Technician ...

City: London Salary: BECTU Graded

Senior Electrics Technician

City: London Salary: BECTU Graded

Principal Dresser - The Book...

City: London Salary: BECTU minimum.

Head of Electrics

City: London Salary: Competitive

Marketing Executive

City: London Salary: £23K

Electrics Technician

Salary: £34,417 p/a plus staff benefits, regular ov...

Technical Instructor (Stage ...

City: London Salary: £29,758 - £...

Summer Theatre Jobs in America

City: New York Salary: SALARY + FR...

Deputy Head of Electrics

City: London Salary: SOLT/BECTU ...

Theatre Technician

City: Winchester Salary: £23,409 - £...

Potters Theatre Company - Le...

City: Hopton Salary: Competitive

Technical Manager 1.0 FTE

City: London Salary: £38,071 - £...

Redcoat Auditions

City: Various Salary: Competitive

Marketing Manager

City: Blackpool Salary: £30,000 per...

More Reviews

Road Show review

Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London

Jack and the Beanstalk review

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

Almeida Theatre, London

The Invention of Love review

Hampstead Theatre, London

Recommended for you

Hotel guest book reveals historic details of Mayflower Theatre's past

News by Katie Chambers

Road Show review

Reviews by Tom WickerUpstairs at the Gatehouse, London

The Stage Awards 2025 shortlist: Community Award

Features by The Stage

Hamlet, December 19, 2024

Cartoons by Harry Venning

Most Read

Across The Stage this week

David Tennant departs stage following Macbeth audience disruption

The Stage's Top 50 shows of 2024

Top 50 shows of 2024: London

The Stage Awards 2025: shortlist in full

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review

The Stage Awards 2025: all four nations represented in UK-spanning shortlist

Top 50 shows of 2024: Around the UK

Ballet leader Caroline Miller dies after period of ill health

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 review

Robin Hood review

Your subscription helps ensure our journalism can continue

Invest in The Stage today with a subscription starting at just £5.99

Newspaper

Opinion & Advice

More

Get Into Theatre

Info

Advertising Enquiries

Awards

The Stage Awards

The Stage Debut Awards

Legal

Terms and conditions

Advertising terms and conditions

Contributor agreement

Digital

Digital Editions

Subscribe

Subscribe

Start a subscription today from just £7.99 Subscribe

© Copyright The Stage Media Company Limited 2024