Shrewsbury is host to the panto of your dreams this winter, with Sleeping Beauty at Theatre Severn. The show has everything required for a good fairytale - an evil sorceress, a handsome prince, a good fairy, a ‘happily ever after’... and a couple of dinosaurs!

Shrewsbury favourite Brad Fitt takes the helm as director once again, as well as donning the oversized dresses and silly headgear of Nanny Nolly. It’s clear why Brad is a permanent fixture on the Theatre Severn panto stage. His rapport with the audience is unmatched, and there’s a real feeling of camaraderie in the company - everyone was clearly having a whale of a time. 

Tommy J Rollason also returns, as Jangles - the princess’ best pal and court jester. It’s a role he’s well suited to, with a background in circus - so you can be sure that there’s some impressive stunts in store. Nothing quite matches his impression of a juggler on a motorbike, though.

Dionne Ward-Anderson and Gemma Sutton bring the magic, as Fairy Moonbeam and the evil Carabosse, respectively. Both absolutely revel in their characters and buzz with energy, with Moonbeam giving some good-natured backchat to the audience, and Carabosse milking every theatrical moment. 

Princess Aurora is played by Lauren Lane, who is the perfect blend of gutsy and sweet, while Prince Michael (Christian Southway) does a great line in heroic swagger. There are more than a few references to the world of musical theatre - which is perhaps unsurprising, given that half the cast have arrived in Shrewsbury direct from the West End.

The production was slick and sumptuous from first to last, with plenty of belly laughs along the way. The visual design is as big and spectacular as a panto should be - glitzy, glam and at times pyrotechnic. And Nanny Nolly’s costumes (designed by Michael J Batchelor) were inspired. It’s worth making a visit simply to see her chosen mode of transport when travelling with a troupe of toy soldiers.

The live band and music were pitch perfect and fully integrated into the show, under the musical direction of Matthew Hall, but they weren’t the only ones making noise. Keep your eyes peeled for Jangles’ magic machine that transforms brain waves into song lyrics (presumably with assistance from sound designer Jake Johnson and operator Andy Onion). It’s a quickfire, lip-syncing delight. 

This year marks the 13th pantomime collaboration between Theatre Severn and panto production company Evolution, headed up by Emily Wood and Paul Hendy, who also wrote the script. They seem to be a dream team, so let's hope the resulting silliness, slapstick, good fun and ghost gags continue for many years to come.

Five Stars

Sleeping Beauty was reviewed by Jessica Clixby on Friday 6 December at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn, where it shows until Sunday 12 January