Jack and the Beanstalk Panto at Norwich Theatre Royal

It’s that time of year again, Christmas, which can mean only one thing, Panto season! So as you can all assume I was very excited last week when I went to see the Norwich Theatre Royal panto for 2016, Jack and the Beanstalk. After last year’s fantastic performance of Snow White I was super excited as you can imagine. I thought I would take Mother along with me as she loves a bit of theatre and audience participation. We went for a Nando’s before (of course now I get the 20% NHS discountJ). I tell you this as it features in the panto. I also cannot believe that I met Helen Fraser, best known in my eyes for playing Sylvia ‘BodyBag’ Hollamby in the ITV series Bad Girls (me and Mother were such great fans). And it was also fantastic to see darts sports personality Bobby George enjoying a bit of panto. We had such a great evening. Yes it is all a bit cheesy but I love cheese. The NTR panto is full of singing, dancing, great costumes, audience participation, rhyming couplets and a bit of entertainment for the adults. It is absolute great fun for all the family.

Jack and the Beanstalk panto for NTR is written, directed and starring Richard Gauntlett, playing the panto Dame Nigella Trottalot. I am a big fan of Gauntlett’s, seeing him last year in the panto was a great experience and he was a great dame again this year. I also saw him on the Gilbert and Sullivan tour in Pirates this year. He really engages well with the audience, makes them laugh loads and gets everyone involved. My mum particularly loved the Nando’s joke and she could not stop laughing for about 5 minutes, I think she may have annoyed some other patrons. I was a bit gutted that his outfits were not as outrageous as last year though, although I still hope we see Dicky next year for his 17^th year at NTR panto. The production is very professional and it honestly reflects some of the amazing touring musical productions I have seen throughout the year. The production has a western and country theme running through it which was fabulous. With a Dolly Parton themed introduction to the story and some country cheesy music alongside tributes to Oklahoma! And Guys and Dolls musicals I was in my element, so thank you for whoever decided to use these songs (musical director and arranger was David Carter).

The cast of the panto are fantastic; they all gel so well together on stage. The famous ballet dancer Wayne Sleep also stars in this production as the panto villain. He was ace as this character and reminded me of Beverley Leslie in the Will and Grace series, playing a slightly camp villain, which is not a bad thing. I loved the fact he did some dancing throughout the show and a good tap dance at the end. I absolutely loved Dolly the Fairy (guess who she was based upon) played by Harriet Bunton. Bunton had a great country accent and her singing voice was lovely, I would actually like to hear her sing the 9 to 5 song with the real words. The heart throb from last year’s panto, David Burilin, returned again this year as titled character Jack, playing the role very well. David Gant is there playing the Sheriff. Ben Langley has returned to play the ‘fool’ (I am not sure of the professional term J) in this year’s performance in the role of Silly Billy, Jack’s brother. Langley is fantastic in the show, he has a fantastic comedic stage presence and his relationship with Gauntlett on stage is priceless to watch. He interacts perfectly with the audience members of all ages. The funniest part was at the end when some children from the audience were invited up to sing old McDonald Farm. It was so funny, I can’t actually explain how much I was laughing, I think the horse noise will make me laugh for many weeks to come.  I have to say the set of panto babes from the Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts were hilarious, especially the little one who plays the little yellow chick – she was actually amazing. I am not sure which set we saw (blue, orange or red), but they were fantastic, and they all deserve a round of applause.

The effects in the performance are brilliant. The working waterfall on stage last year was fantastic but the giant this year is amazing. I was wondering before the show how the giant would be portrayed on stage and how the beanstalk would grow. It really was great and who knew inflatables aren’t just for bouncing on or floating on. The giant comes to life and the audience sets eyes on a talking, blinking giant. One girl was crying in the interval, but I have to say I think the majority of children will not find him too scary. Kirsteen Wythe has created the costumes again this year. The curtain call (wedding) outfits for the whole cast were gorgeous.  The sparkles, glitter, colours and elegance were beautiful to see. Some of the Dame’s costumes were high-class but I did not think they had the same pizazz as last year. The scenery was amazing as I have said before it really does resemble some of the amazing touring musical productions from this year, on occasions surpassing them by a lot, congratulations goes to Scenic Pantomimes from Lowestoft.

The Norwich Theatre Royal’s panto of Jack and the Beanstalk is a fantastic and professional show and is definitely worth watching this festive period. You will be guaranteed all the usual aspects of a panto that make them so much fun as well as fantastic happy feeling as you leave once the show has come to its end. The whole family, whether you are 2 or 92, will enjoy the show, there is something in this production for all, you are bound to enjoy. The show runs from now until Sunday 15^th January 2017. There are countless of performances from now until the end of the run and it is best to visit the website, just click on the link above. As can be predicted the showings during December are either sold out or limited availability with more ticket options available for the January showings, so hurry up and get yours. I am now getting ready and excited for next year’s panto which will be Sleeping Beauty, I believe tickets are available already for next year and there is a discount on the good seats if you pay by February 2017. I have some more posts to write but if you don’t read them I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and all the best for 2017, please get in touch @AaronBurgess89.