THEGAYUK

Tag: Panto

All the latest breaking news on Panto. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Panto.

  • Theatre Review | Cinderella (and Panto’s in General) – Theatres Nationwide

    Theatre Review | Cinderella (and Panto’s in General) – Theatres Nationwide

    ★★★★★ | Cinderella, Sheffield Theatres

    If there is one thing that is sure to herald Christmas out there in theatre land it is the arrival of the traditional panto, and whilst many may immediately turn to thoughts of screaming children and D-list celebrities, there is a surprising amount of fun to be had at your local theatre this festive season.

    Whilst this review will be of Cinderella at Sheffield Theatres, it would probably extrapolate to theatres up and down the country. As South Pacific so ably put it, “There is Nothing Like A Dame”, and this year’s offering sees the return of panto dame, Damian Williams (Benidorm Live!) camping his way across the stage as Donaldina, one of the ugly sisters, ably partner by Matt Daines as Melina the other (somewhat) uglier one. This alone should start you thinking that the jokes here are not just for the kids, as a whole host of political figures come in for a ribbing – but none quite hit the topical shock value as much as one gag involving a prince sweating; and there’s the groaner jokes, the laugh out loud jokes and the saucy ones which fly straight over the kids heads nestled amongst the furore.

    Joanne Clifton plays on her Strictly status as the fairy godmother. TV’s Mister Maker (looking surprisingly like Robbie Williams) keeps the kids happy, and even Paul O’Grady makes a surprise appearance as fairy. Need we say more? Still not convinced? How about throwing in a young Zac Efron looking Prince Charming and a handful of handsome backing dancers to add to the camptastic value of it all?

    There is a host of musical numbers scattered around the production, this year including songs from other musicals such as The Greatest Showman and Everybody’s Talking about Jamie; whilst a smattering of pop songs (Ed Sheeran, Adele and Beyoncé) all add to the fun. We’d be lying if we said that there wasn’t any screaming kids at the show, but, hey, that is all part of it; and if you let yourself get carried away in the spirit of things, you’ll soon be shouting out, groaning, booing, singing and laughing out loud along with the best of them.

    It’s loud, bold, crass and kitsch, and it is difficult to know who enjoyed themselves more – my 11 year old nephew, or me; but either way, we had an absolute blast, leaving the theatre with a massive grin, with sides aching from laughter and with the firm opinion that panto is not just for kids.  

    Cinderella is playing at Sheffield Theatres until 5th January 2020; but check out your local theatre website and see who starring near you.

  • Austin powers through as Scotty T pulls out

    Austin powers through as Scotty T pulls out

    An adult panto in Wrexham has been saved after CBB star, Austin Armacost saves the day.

    Austin and his giant Beanstalk!

    Geordie Shore star Scotty T pulled out of an adult panto over the weekend, just four days before the opening night, leaving the show in jeopardy, but CBB star, Austin Armacost was at hand to save the day. A source close to the show, said, “Scotty pulled out with no warning leaving the cast without a star.”

    Speaking to THEGAYUK, Austin said, “I got a call at 3 on Saturday from the producer and by 4 I was running lines at home. Sunday morning I was in rehearsals.”

    He’s in panto… Oh yes he is!!!

    Austin, who is known to not hold back on what he thinks, took a swipe at Scotty, saying, “It’s so sad when people can’t fulfil their obligations” before assuring punters who had already bought tickets that, “the show is coming together really well!”.

    CREDIT: Channel 5

    Scotty T made headlines when he appeared in Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother and got very close and personal to fellow star Jeremy

    According to sources, Scotty had to pull out of the show “due to illness” and that the cast “are all annoyed as the show starts in three days.”

    The cast includes BGT star, Danny Beard and Voice star Divina De Campo.

    Austin told us, “Working with these 3 drag queens is entertaining as fuck! The show is going to be a non-stop laughing, raunchy, filthy, display of quirkiness! So glad to be a part of this cast as we are all working very hard!”

    The show is to take place from the 22nd January at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham.

  • There’s an adult Panto in Bournemouth… Oh Yes There Is!

    There’s an adult Panto in Bournemouth… Oh Yes There Is!

    Panto season’s over? “Oh No It Isn’t”! Following on from last year’s hugely successful run of Sleeping Beauty, Bournemouth’s first ever alternative panto, the cast are at it again only this time they’re getting to grips with Jack’s Stalk.

    Jack ‘N His Big Stalk

    The wonderful Bourne Free (Bournemouth Pride) team in association with Over The Rainbow charity, who help with all sexual health issues, are pleased to see the return of some of their beloved stars from last year, including: Lucinda Lashes (Ben), Paul Lawrence Thomas (Cosmic), Cassie (Lea Martin), Cassidy Connors (Wesley Sebastian), Richard Facer and Jason Burch.

    It seems the stalk is not the only thing getting bigger though down in Bournemouth as two new stars, Sheila Tackya (Xchange Club Hostess) and Vielida Moppe (UK Drag Idol winner 2016), will be joining the panto family who, due to popular demand last year, will be offering a much longer run.

    We advise you BOOK NOW as tickets will sell out fast for this guaranteed night of hilarity and innuendo! Over 16’s recommended.

    The show runs from the 18th – 22nd January 2017 at the Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth. Tickets can be purchased from shelleytheatre.admit-one.eu

    Bourne Free Pride takes place the weekend of 30th June – 2nd July 2017.

     

     

     

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Charming Dick

    THEATRE REVIEW | Charming Dick

    ★★★ | Charming Dick

    Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a couple of cut-price synthetic-fibre-clad drag queens, a Eurovision medley, and a huge sack full of festive double entendres and innuendos – we at THEGAYUK can’t wait for Kris Kringle to cum down our chimney – falalalala la la la la.

    Producer Catia Ciarico and The Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s production of Charming Dick has more puns than letters to Santa requesting penis pumps. If you’ve a penchant for musical theatre, know your way around a winklepicker-tapping Dolly Parton number and the melody to ‘Money Money Money’ sends your baubles into a figgy-pudding frenzy, then this should be right up your North Pole.

    Charming Dick is a posing-pouch-packed with everything an adult yuletide panto should be, audience participation – “oh yes there is”. A Twankey (Tim McArthur), a wicked witch (Matthew Floyd), a prince (Stewart Briggs) a Little Red Riding Hood/blind mouse/chem-sex party fag-hag (Abigail Carter-Simpson) and of course, a Big Dick (Ali Frederick). Imagine Westminster City Council as the witch, then you’ve got the Noel narrative.

    Not every scene was like skating around the rink at Somerset House, a few of the lines took the same route as the lemon does with the Turkey on the nut-cracking day, and the ‘Twelve Day Of Christmas’ almost got lost in a snow-hole – but it all added to the jingle-belling jollity. Any mince pie indulgence from the derrieres-on-seats would have been worked off with the continuous guffaws.

    This is a stuffer for your stocking, a trimming for your tree, full of festive vulgarity – head to the Cockpit Theatre and we hope you ‘Oh Cum All Ye Faithful’.

    If we gave halves – we’d give three-and-half.

    The Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH
6 – 23 December 2016 | Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm 
£16 (adv), £18 (on the door), £12 (conc) | www.thecockpit.org.uk | | 020 7258 2925

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Beauty On The Piste

    THEATRE REVIEW | Beauty On The Piste

    ✭✭ | Beauty on the Piste

    Beauty on the piste
    CREDIT: Above The Stag

    It’s Panto season in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, and with that comes shows that are silly and campy, some good and more than a few not so good. But does it really matter?

    This year’s panto at Above the Stag is Beauty on the Piste, a reimagining of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and it’s exactly what you would expect, but perhaps a bit less.

    This is the plot, in a nutshell: Morag (David Moss) and her son Mac (an adorable Ross Tucker) own a tea house high up in the mountains in a town called Les De Nice (Les Dennis – cue laugh here).

    Passing by the tea house is the young lithe and blond boy Beau (Joshua Oakes-Rogers) and his father Gustav (Andrew Truluck). Beau is eternally horny and always on Grindr (we’re getting tired of Grindr being in almost every gay play nowadays). But nearby is where The Beast (Jamie Coles) lives, behind huge gates in an old mansion, and he’s hardly ever seen.

    One night Morag and Gustav decide to take a walk to get to know each other better, but they are kidnapped by The Beast, and it’s up to Morag and Beau to go looking for them. They find them in The Beast’s home, and Beau trades places with his father to let him free, and it’s only a matter of time before sparks fly between Beau and The Beast. But trouble lies on the horizon; the gay Sebastian St. Moritz (Simon Burr), who owns lots of the property in Les De Nice, wants to raise the rent of the tea house, so what’s the newly rescued Morag and her son going to do? Throw in Mabel the Fairy (a cute Briony Rawie), and The Beasts housekeeper – Heidi (Ellen Butler) – who keeps morphing into various items one finds in the house- and what you’ve got is a show, with a sing-a-long, that’s full of glitter and glee.

    Does it matter that the songs are awful? No!

    Does it matter that this production is not one of the Stag’s better shows? No!

    And does it matter that most (if not all) of the cast can’t sing? Of course not!

    Why?

    Because you’re not going to see Beauty on the Piste because it is sold out for the rest of it’s run! So perhaps console (or congratulate) yourself and buy a ticket to their next production – Bitches Ahoy – a show that bills itself as a “gay holiday hilarity” – hopefully it’s a return to the Stag’s better quality shows. Just one month to go until Panto season ends, whew!

    Just one month to go until Panto season ends, whew!

    Beauty On the Piste plays at Above The Stag until 14th January 2017

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Tinderella, Cinders Slips it In is a real sparkle of a production!

    Above the Stag theatre has done it again and produced another hilarious panto in ‘Tinderella: Cinders Slips it In.’ ★★★★

    The theatre has produced many a camp panto in years past. These include ‘Dick Whittington: Another Dick in City Hall’ in 2009, ‘Sleeping Beauty: One Little Prick’ in 2011, and last year’s ‘Treasure Island: The Curse of the Pearl Necklace.’ But with ‘Tinderella: Cinders Slips it In‘ the Stag has outcamped, and outdone, all its previous pantos. It’s as camp as christmas and as gay as eggnog. And it’s hilarious.

    The title says it all. The show is a take off on Cinderella, and in the Stag’s version Prince Charming is searching the kingdom for a man (and NOT a woman) who fits into the glass slipper, in the kingdom of Slutvia. And that man is Cinders. He cooks and cleans and does the chores for his wicked evil stepmother Countess Volga and her two vile daughters Nicole Ferrari and Maude Escort. But then one day, while on a gay app on his mobile phone, he meets Prince Charming, and it is love at first sight for both of them. But Cinders’ phone gets ruined (I won’t say how!), and he’s unable to contact, or be contacted by, the very handsome young Prince.

    But there is a Fairy Godmother, in the form of The Fairy, and she’s the one who, with the help of the adorable Buttons, makes sure that Cinders gets to the ball to be reunited with Prince Charming, though the Prince’s father, King Ludwig, has no clue that his son is jonesing for another man. It’s all a laugh a minute when the show takes us from the Countesses’ kitchen to the King’s office to a courgette that gets turned into, funny enough, a mode of transport to which Cinders to the palace! We also are treated to songs about balls, a clever slow-motion scene that involves the entire cast, and enough campiness and cute boys to make even Alan Carr blush. And to top it off, we are spoiled with Slutvia’s Eurovision song!

    What can one say about a show that has ok acting, ok singing, and an ok script? Well – it’s brilliant! You’ll be laughing from the opening scenes which include a giant rat, to the audience participation bits (there are quite a few and boy are they clever!), up to the final heartwarming and groin inflaming scenes. It’s a show that’s over two hours but it flies by. And the cast are perfect, from Joseph Lycett-Barnes as Prince Charming to Lucas Meredith as Buttons and Grant Cartwright as Cinders – everyone does their part, and they all act very well with each other! From the writers and director of total sell-out hits ‘Get Aladdin,’ ‘Jack Off the Beanstalk,’ and ‘Treasure Island – The Curse of the Pearl Necklace’ (Martin Hooper and Jon Bradfield) and directed by Andrew Beckett, Above the Stag has put on another memorable show.

    Tinderella: Cinders Slips it In is playing until January 16th, 2016. Most performances are sold out but there are a few tickets left on various dates. To book, please go here: http://www.abovethestag.com/shows/

     

  • Julian Clary To Rub His Ring For Panto

    Punters are you ready? King of Camp, drinker of Blue Nun and fister of politicians, Julian Clary is ready for Panto.

    Following last year’s record-breaking production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome has announced another all-star cast for this year’s action-packed pantomime Aladdin, which runs from Saturday 19 December 2015 until Sunday 31 January 2016.

    Julian, 56, who will play Spirit of the Ring, (insert ring jokes here) will be joined by MARTI PELLOW, LEE MEAD, MATT SLACK and ANDREW RYAN.

    Julian Clary has established himself as one of the country’s most recognisable and popular stage and television entertainers. He has turned his hand to comedy, acting, presenting, writing and in 2012 Julian won Celebrity Big Brother. As well as his autobiography, Julian has become an accomplished novelist with a number of best-sellers to his credit. He is a hugely- popular panto performer and has headlined some of the biggest pantomimes around the UK, including Dick Whittington at Birmingham Hippodrome opposite Joan Collins in 2010. Julian plays the Spirit of the Ring.

    Hurrah! Get Booking campers.

  • CBEEBIES Chris Jarvis To Host Relaxed Panto In Newcastle

    Newcastle Theatre Royal has announced Chris Jarvis as the host for its Relaxed Performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on 13 January. (more…)

  • Britains Got Talent Drag Star La Voix In Panto

    Oh yes she is…

    Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist La Voix will star as Widow Twankey alongside Ben Richards as Abanazar in Aladdin, one of the only traditional pantomimes in central London, playing at the Shaw Theatre in Kings Cross from Thursday 11 December. On sale now.
    Aladdin is a traditional pantomime for the whole family, featuring a live band, stunning sets, glittering costumes, and plenty of audience participation. Aladdin promises to be a truly spectacular pantomime, and one of the only traditional pantomimes in central London. So get ready to take a magical carpet ride on an enchanting journey you’ll remember forever!

    La Voix will star as Widow Twankey. La Voix is a 2014 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, whose accolades include Best Drag Act at this year’s London Cabaret Awards. A vivacious performer with live spine-tingling vocals, La Voix’s uncanny ability to switch between the vocal styles of Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland or Cher with the click of a finger leaves audiences mesmerised.

    Ben Richards will star as Abanazar. Ben recently starred in the UK Tour of Rock of Ages, with other recent theatre including leading roles in Oliver! at Sheffield Crucible, the UK Tour of 9 to 5, Priscilla Queen of the Desert at The Palace Theatre, Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre, Grease at the Victoria Palace Theatre and Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium. Ben is well known for TV roles including PC Nate Roberts in The Bill, Justin in Holby City and Bruno Milligan in Footballers’ Wives.
    The cast also features Justin Thomas (Wicked, Dirty Dancing) as Aladdin, Helen Kurup (CBBC’s I Dream) as Princess Jasmine, Matthew Wesley (From Here to Eternity, Cabaret) as Genie of the Lamp, Lauren Storer as Genie of the Ring, Paul Lawrence Thomas as Wishee Washee, Oliver Broad as PC Pongo and Mark Lyminster as Emperor of China.

    LISTINGS
    THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2014 TO SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015
    SHAW THEATRE
    100-110 Euston Rd, London NW1 2AJ
    Press Performances: Saturday 13 December at 2.00pm and 5.30pm, Tuesday 16 December at 7.00pm
    Tickets: £10.50-21.50 (£68.00 Family of 4)
    Box office 0844 248 5075 | www.shaw-theatre.com
    ON SALE NOW

  • Dan Osborne Show Off His Beanstalk In Liverpool For Panto Season

    The festive season made an early appearance in Liverpool today as an all-star cast officially launched the biggest panto in town, Jack and the Beanstalk at the Epstein Theatre.

    LHK Productions return to the Epstein Theatre this Christmas with one of the world’s favourite fairy tales from Thu 11 Dec 2014 – Sun 4 Jan 2015 for an incredible 49 shows. As always the show promises to deliver the incredible fun of traditional pantomime with a fresh twist that made the acclaimed Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Aladdin such huge, runaway successes.

    LHK are renowned for bringing top stars to the stage in all of their productions and 2014 is no exception, in what promises to be the greatest celebrity cast yet.

    Certain to get hearts fluttering right across Liverpool, ITV’s Towie and Splash star Dan Osborne is set to tread the boards for the very first time as he makes his panto debut as leading man Jack. Also coming to panto for the very first time is the Fairy Godmother of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings Thelma Madine – swapping the needle and thread for a magic wand and donning a fabulous frock of her own when she stars as the Fairy.

    After entertaining audiences at last year’s panto as the Magic Mirror, Celebrity hairdresser and beauty guru Herbert of Liverpool makes a welcome return as the voice of the Giant. Brookside’s Suzanne Collins returns to the Liverpool stage as Mrs Fleshcreep and Grease is the Word’s Alison Crawford returns to the Epstein as Jill completing this year’s glamorous, star-studded cast.

    This gigantic production promises a whole host of Christmas fun in another magical show at the Epstein Theatre. With magic beans in abundance, a beanstalk reaching the heavens, golden geese and hungry giants, this show really is too big to miss. Jack and the Beanstalk is the perfect family treat and runs from Thu 11 Dec 2014 – Sun 4 Jan 2015.

    Performance details:
    Jack and The Beanstalk
    Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, Hanover St, Liverpool L1 3DZ
    Thursday 11th December 2014 – Sunday 4th January 2015
    Tickets from £12.50
    Performance times vary, please check with Theatre Box Office.

    To book call 0844 888 4411, visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk or book in person at the theatre box office (open 2pm-6pm Mon-Thu & 12pm-6pm Fri-Sat)

    Or via TicketQuarter: To book call 0844 8000 410 or visit www.ticketquarter.co.uk

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dick Comes Again

    ★★★ Once again, Leicester Square Theatre has provided an outrageously camp panto that hovers on just the right side of obscenity.

    Dick (Dave Bibby) and his trusty but drunk sidekick, Dave the Cat (Nick Read), agree to help Alice Fitznicely (Laura Hyde) sail the Leaky Vessel up Streaky Crack to find her family jewels and the key to her chas-titty belt. They are aided and hindered along the way by Sofonda Cox (Soho legend, The Very Miss Dusty ‘O’), Queen Runt (Paula Masterton) and Fairy Bell-End (Laura Curnick).

    With a few of last year’s jokes re-used, this production could, perhaps, have benefitted from some more original material, but it’s a small complaint. The old jokes are still relevant and the new ones manage to shock and delight in equal measure – there were a few audible gasps from the middle-aged ladies sat in front of me who shrieked and squealed throughout the evening.

    The innuendos come thick and fast in almost every line of Stuart Saint’s script with moments of genuine hilarity. Plenty of twerking and some superb performances from the very colourful cast further enhance the deliciously filthy pantomime atmosphere.

    The best laughs of the night, for this critic anyway, come from Dave the Cat, a drunk sexed-up version of Puss from Shrek (complete with dodgy Spanish accent). Nick Read performs his role brilliantly and shines through an already bright cast. Laura Hyde’s Alice is another particularly splendid performance, playing the role in the time-honoured over-the-top panto manner.

    Golden showers, S&M, Asian ladyboys and even a 14” dildo complete the ingredients for this fun Soho night out with plenty of suitably cringe-worthy audience participation.

    DICK! COMES AGAIN: BIGGER, LONGER, HARDER! plays at the Leicester Square Theatre until 19 January.