Head to Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre for this year’s festive feast of fun, Dick Whittington - a panto worth its weight in gold. 

Resident Dame Iain Lauchlan takes to the stage once again, this year playing Sarah the Cook, in his 30th panto at the theatre. It may not be a golden anniversary, to match Dick’s dreams of London streets, but it’s definitely worth celebrating - with a large helping of Slosh, and a ridiculous headpiece or three. 

Lauchlan also wrote and directed the show (does he ever leave Pantoland?) and the decades of experience are evident in the perfectly pitched script. Joined again by comedy partner-in-crime, Craig Hollingsworth as Idle Jack, the audience is definitely in safe hands. It’s a good job too, as some (un)lucky audience members might end up getting more than they bargained for…

The man - and moggy - of the hour are of course Dick Whittington and his cat, Tommy, played by Lois Brook and Sam Woods - the former with thigh-slapping gusto, and the latter with the kind of sass any cat owner will recognise. Gabriela Harris and Declan Wilson do their fair share of hat-swapping and role-juggling, playing Alice Fitzwarren/Fairy Bowbells, and Alderman Fitzwarren/The Sultan of Morocco, respectively. 

So much for the Goodies, but no self disrespecting panto would be complete without the chance to Boo and Hiss. Enter King Rat, played by Andy Hockley, with a green leather jacket, and a dastardly plan to take over the world! He’s aided by Scratch (Aonghas Ewen), a rat with a love of musical theatre and a knack for finding increasingly ridiculous fancy dress - a firm fan favourite, going by the applause in the curtain call.

The cast provide everything you could wish for in a panto, but the set is even more spectacular. Built in-house at the theatre, and designed by Ian Westbrook, the streets of London are a cartoonish neon paradise to rival Sarah the Cook’s Doc Martens. And wait until you meet the singing octopus…

It’s fair to say that a huge amount of love, care and laughter has been poured into this production, from the glitzy visuals to the excellent, all-singing, all-dancing ensemble, choreographed by Jenny Phillips - another Belgrade regular. Not forgetting the heroism of the illusive Rat Man, wherever he may be… His fight scene was a little work of genius.

With bucketloads of joy, silliness and good cheer, this year’s festive season surely begins at the Belgrade Pantomime.

Five Stars

Dick Whittington was reviewed by Jessica Clixby on Friday 22 November at the Belgrade Theatre, where it shows until Saturday 4 January.