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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:16:49 GMT
There's Peter Pan in Crawley, showgirl . I haven't seen it, obviously, but Evolution has a good reputation. Thank you, TallPaul; hadn't even considered Crawley as I never see a single review of a production there and they're normally a receiving house only but shall look.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:18:26 GMT
London commuter belt, presumably somewhere like Snow White in Milton Keynes. On a separate matter, has anyone seen Goldilocks in Richmond yet? Interesting to me that almost every pantomime advertised on ATG is 1 hour 50 minutes long. That must have been determined to be the optimal length. Thank you, Dr Tom; actually MK is way too far north but I'm grateful for the suggestion.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 13, 2022 4:25:50 GMT
Have now come up with my own shortlist of 5 pantos in the London/SW London area, based on favourable reviews on review websites, though some productions have very early end dates - a new trend, perhaps? I've always been frustrated in that past as a keen theatregoer but not a fan of panto, by the way panto tended to clog up most theatres from December until January or even February, so maybe things are changing now.
Alice In Wonderland at Brixton House - though not a lover of rap; Peter Pan at the Ashcroft, Croydon; A Xmas Carol at the Rose, Kingston; A Xmas Carol at Soho Theatre;
and possibly, though this is in the West End, which I wanted to avoid, and probably too expensive and busy
Mother Goose at the Duke of Yorks.
Shame A Xmas Carol seems to be so popular this year and that I've already booked to see this year's Old Vic version, which will be my 3rd year seeing it, but as long as they're all well done and different, preferable to seeing something else done badly.
Anyone able to narrow the above down further for me, either way, please say!
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Post by Jon on Dec 13, 2022 16:48:21 GMT
I had noticed many pantos end on December 31st. There are a few exceptions, the Birmingham Hippodrome one doesn't end until the end of January but it only starts this Saturday. I guess it varies from theatre to theatre.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 13, 2022 23:04:43 GMT
I had noticed many pantos end on December 31st. There are a few exceptions, the Birmingham Hippodrome one doesn't end until the end of January but it only starts this Saturday. I guess it varies from theatre to theatre. School holidays vary regionally, which can also play a factor.
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Post by Jon on Dec 15, 2022 1:58:16 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back.
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Post by Mark on Dec 15, 2022 8:47:59 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday.
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Dec 15, 2022 8:59:23 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday. Whatabout Sundays?
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Post by Mark on Dec 15, 2022 9:18:31 GMT
No shows on Strictly Saturday. Whatabout Sundays? All recorded on Saturday
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Post by Jon on Dec 15, 2022 14:11:26 GMT
I find it interesting that the likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke do panto given it's when they are on Strictly especially Craig who is in Bristol this year and Anton who's in Bromley. I assume the BBC has cars for them so they can get to Elstree and back. No shows on Strictly Saturday. It's still a long day considering they have to do rehearsals and tech in the mornings and then commute to and from their panto location the night before or the morning after. I'm sure the panto money makes it worth it though. To a lesser degree, Brenda Edwards is doing Loose Women on her off day although I admit not as much work involved with that and it's only a few hours tops.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 17, 2022 8:37:50 GMT
Finally came to my decision after waiting for the right tickets at the right price, a double Panto day on the 29th
Jack and the Beanstalk - Palladium (one of those rare single seat deals, stalls row F centre for not much more than the restricted C seats) Mother Goose - Duke of York’s (Front row cheapie)
With the plethora of Christmas Carol’s this year opted for SRB at the Bridge on the 23rd for a change from my usual Old Vic, only drawback is that I will need to take my own mince pies.
Christmas themed Theatre sorted and should be a good one.
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Post by properjob on Dec 17, 2022 15:48:05 GMT
I had noticed many pantos end on December 31st. There are a few exceptions, the Birmingham Hippodrome one doesn't end until the end of January but it only starts this Saturday. I guess it varies from theatre to theatre. I suspect Birmingham Hippodrome having its own resident ballet company, has a run of the nutcracker to fit in at Christmas as well as Panto.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 17, 2022 16:22:01 GMT
I remember when pantos used to run until at least the middle to the end of January. I'm surprised most aren't running longer given how much cash they bring in.
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Post by Jon on Dec 17, 2022 16:40:09 GMT
I remember when pantos used to run until at least the middle to the end of January. I'm surprised most aren't running longer given how much cash they bring in. Maybe running longer is not cost effective. Some can run longer but I would assume Michael Harrison has crunched the numbers and worked out that those January weeks are a bit lean. Next year's pantos are either on sale or going to be sale. Wimbledon is getting Cinderella with Craig Revel Horwood while Southampton is getting Snow White with Diversity.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Dec 17, 2022 21:06:40 GMT
Saw the Mayflower panto yesterday (Goldilocks and the Three Bears)
What I liked: - Sooty and Sweep. Every time they were on stage I just wanted more of them. Best bit was an extended bit where Sweep is upset and projectile-cries over the audience with jets of water from his eyes, it was genuinely hysterical. - The 12 days of Christmas sequence in act 2. So obvious that the cast loved doing it, it really elevated the show. - Adam Strong as the dame. Great audience work, some great looks and held the chaos together. - Jason Donovan was a great sport and enjoyed being a villains (lots of jokes about Neighbours and Joseph). - The visuals. The set, lighting, costumes, and the animal animatronics were stunning (especially the elephant) - The variety acts (roller-skating acrobats especially) - the dance sequences (especially Be A Clown and 42nd Street numbers) - The obligatory bringing kids up on stage to say cute things, the kids were very good (no idea if it was an audience plant, but kids can just be organically funny sometimes)
What I didn’t like: - The plot was paper thin, even for a panto. If it had been more openly a variety show with a thin plot line then it would have worked more, but the three bears plot held it back.
- The three bears. No insult to the performers but the bears as characters were pointless, slightly horrifying to look at, and weren’t really needed.
- Some of the jokes and magic sequences didn’t land. Also an incredibly iffy joke in a sequence of playing snippets of songs connected to lines of dialogue and they played a 2 second snippet of ‘two little boys’ by a certain disgraced TV presenter before reacting like ‘NO DONT PLAY THAT!’ (It was a bit of a poor taste reference imo)
Overall I’d give it 3/5 stars, but it was still a fun excuse to go to the theatre
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Post by lou105 on Dec 18, 2022 10:02:44 GMT
I saw Biggins in Darlington yesterday (family nearby). The show is Peter Pan but further down the timeline (Wendy pops back to Neverland,Peter has forgotten how to fly, can they find some fairy dust to save the day scenario). Biggins plays Mrs Smee, mother of Smee, who is the "Hiya kids" character. He is moving very cautiously these days, and was kept out of the most active elements like If I were not in panto now..by the device of the other characters shouting Not yet! every time he came on. He did the singalong with the kids very well and a nice duet with Captain Hook, but he stood still whilst the latter danced round him. Clearly recent health issues have taken their toll and the big cumbersome costumes won't help. A strong cast overall, notably Steve Arnott as a verbose Captain Hook and some acrobatic pirates. Some of the jokes were on the crude side for some tastes but overall a lively colourful show.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Dec 18, 2022 14:07:26 GMT
I think shorter panto runs also help get big names in, easier to get people to commit to intense 3 to 4 week runs over December. Plus since Sunday shows have become the norm they can make money in less time. Better to have the December dates sell out than go jnto January with less full audiences
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Post by Jon on Dec 18, 2022 18:32:23 GMT
I think shorter panto runs also help get big names in, easier to get people to commit to intense 3 to 4 week runs over December. Plus since Sunday shows have become the norm they can make money in less time. Better to have the December dates sell out than go jnto January with less full audiences I imagine some venues make hand over fist from panto even with a fairly short run. I have notice that Wimbledon seems to be struggle with panto compared to other venues.
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Post by properjob on Dec 18, 2022 20:32:14 GMT
A lot will depend on how many school groups there are in the area. Outside of the school holidays most pantos play 2 daytime shows a day for the schools market. There will also be shows at the weekends (sometimes 3 a day) and during the school Christmas holidays which will generally be afternoon and early evening and bring in families. Therefore to play an extra week you would want about 8 shows (2 a day plus a rest day) of extra schools groups.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Dec 19, 2022 15:25:42 GMT
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Post by h86 on Dec 19, 2022 15:54:47 GMT
There is no reason for Aladdin pantos to be seen less, producers just need to cast appropriately and not include ridiculous racist lyrics.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Dec 19, 2022 16:26:04 GMT
There is no reason for Aladdin pantos to be seen less, producers just need to cast appropriately and not include ridiculous racist lyrics. In an ideal world I'd agree, but finding enough Chinese actors who are also name panto box office draws will be difficult to cast multiple productions across the country. Changing the panto setting to a non descript fantasy setting like the disney version would help.
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Post by Jon on Dec 19, 2022 16:34:51 GMT
I'm surprised they didn't just set it in a non descript location.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 21, 2022 9:23:10 GMT
Awful customer service from the Mayflower. I found out today that the train I'd booked to get home is no longer running, and the Mayflower categorically refuse to give the ticket amount back as a credit voucher. I've never encountered that before. Over £100 wasted. Not impressed.
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Post by fiyero on Dec 21, 2022 11:03:38 GMT
Awful customer service from the Mayflower. I found out today that the train I'd booked to get home is no longer running, and the Mayflower categorically refuse to give the ticket amount back as a credit voucher. I've never encountered that before. Over £100 wasted. Not impressed. I was wondering how many people would be caught out with SWR's current lack of late evening trains (last one is like 20:30!) Before Covid I wouldn't have expected a refund or anything when isn't the theatre's fault, things softened to encourage people back but sounds like they have got mean again.
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Post by robertb213 on Dec 21, 2022 12:46:40 GMT
I've reviewed Snow White in Milton Keynes and worked Jack & The Beanstalk at the Derngate in Northampton (which I'll end up seeing 5 times I think). I'm not the biggest panto fan but both were very good.
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Post by h86 on Dec 21, 2022 16:51:47 GMT
Awful customer service from the Mayflower. I found out today that the train I'd booked to get home is no longer running, and the Mayflower categorically refuse to give the ticket amount back as a credit voucher. I've never encountered that before. Over £100 wasted. Not impressed. Is that awful customer service? Mayflower isn’t responsible for the train strikes. You bought the ticket, presumably didn’t get the added extra insurance you can get, if there is no other way for you to get there then it’s just hard luck. Theatres can’t keep on offering refunds or credit vouchers for people who can’t get to the theatre. They need bums on seats and if people can’t get there then why should the theatre return the money or give a credit. Just my opinion.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 21, 2022 17:30:02 GMT
Awful customer service from the Mayflower. I found out today that the train I'd booked to get home is no longer running, and the Mayflower categorically refuse to give the ticket amount back as a credit voucher. I've never encountered that before. Over £100 wasted. Not impressed. Is that awful customer service? Mayflower isn’t responsible for the train strikes. You bought the ticket, presumably didn’t get the added extra insurance you can get, if there is no other way for you to get there then it’s just hard luck. Theatres can’t keep on offering refunds or credit vouchers for people who can’t get to the theatre. They need bums on seats and if people can’t get there then why should the theatre return the money or give a credit. Just my opinion. During a cost of living crisis where I was only asking for a credit to spend at the same theatre, not a refund, to point blank refuse that I would consider to be bad customer service.
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Post by aingidh on Dec 21, 2022 17:54:57 GMT
Off to Snow White at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh tonight. not seen a panto in a very long time so i'm excited!
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Dec 21, 2022 20:41:12 GMT
There is no reason for Aladdin pantos to be seen less, producers just need to cast appropriately and not include ridiculous racist lyrics. Completely agree. If a pantomime can’t secure Asian performers for at least Aladdin and Jasmine then they should do another panto that better suits their casting pool. You can still have Julian Clary (or other bigger name draws) as Spirit of the Ring and Widow Twanky, but having white lead performers in a story set in the Middle East feels weird
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