We went along to the press night last night (Tuesday 12th December 2023) to check it out. The Panto has become an annual family tradition for us and we’ve been lucky to be able to see a few different ones over the years… I think this was the one I laughed at the most (we were in tears with laughter at some points!).
My overall feeling was that this Panto managed to perfectly combine all the classics you know and love… including the evil baddy to boo, the ridiculous (I mean beautiful, gorgeous, fabulous (!)) outfits of the hilarious dame and the sweet nature of the fairy and our lead Jack(line). There were some brilliant modern twists, mainly within the song choices and dance numbers, that kept us all engaged so well – the whole thing was such a treat!
My daughters are 8 & 11, I was born in the 80’s and my husband in the 70s mand the song choices, ranging from boy band classics, Billy Eilish and Elton John to Hamilton and Les Mis Musical numbers (much to my 11-year-old’s delight!) worked fantastically well across the generations. Without spoiling the surprises, one of the dame’s music-themed costumes had us and the rest of the audience in absolute stitches! I’m sure you’ll love it too.
Every performer was so talented and well cast for this show. Mia Overfield (Jack) had the most beautiful singing voice and acted this part as if it was made for her. James Mackenzie was the perfect baddie with plenty of boos as well as a well-told babby back-story as to why he ended up so bad.
Nina Wadia as Fairy Sugersnap with her rhyming couplets were flawless, lighthearted & fun. Matthew Curnier who played Jacks’s brother, Billy, was a favourite of my girls! They loved giving him a virtual high five every time he came on stage.
Anna Soden who played Dave the cow was just brilliant. One of York’s own, she was charming, sweet, just silly enough and her voice was fab too (the rendition of ‘I’m just Dave’ was a highlight!).
Robin Simpson is a brilliant Dame with absolutely fabulous costumes and he managed to make an unexpecting audience member cringe for just the perfect amount thoughout the show! Very lovable charachter with great comic timing.
As brilliant as these actors were, I think we all know there was just one main star of the show though! This was a really unique and VERY popular choice with my daughters…. it was the brilliant Border Collie, Zeus! We absolutely loved this canine addition to the Panto and hope that he’ll return for years to come!
We had a discussion in the car on the way home about how much we loved the show and what our favourite bits were!
🐕🦺 Zeus the Dog and the whole scene between him and the Dame. Who do you think ended up doing the best circuit on the course?
👗 The costumes throughout but in particular of the wonderful Dame
🎶 The songs and funny adjusted lyrics that appealed to us all through the generations
🐶 The dog puns section (my girls loved being able to laugh at the last joke now they’re old enough to understand but young enough to find it naughty but silly!)
🔫 The water pistol fight where the audience got soaked (not exactly soaked but that’s how my youngest saw it and she loved it!)
🍅 The giant tomato. I don’t want to spoil this by saying any more but bravo to Billy, we were very impressed and amazingly amused!
If you would like the chance to be featured in the show with a ‘shout out’ and have a special message read out by the cast, please post your messages in the box located in the foyer on the day of your visit!
For ticket details and to book CLICK HERE
Prices start from £15
The show is on until 7th January 2024
