Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Deborah McAndrew’s lively reworking of Edmond Rostand’s romantic tragi-comedy Cyrano de Bergerac is a largely satisfying affair. The standard of acting is
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:51AMWednesday, January 4, 2017
As producer, writer, director, programme seller and sometime actor, to name but a few of his duties, George Critchley must be one
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:13AMWednesday, December 14, 2016
Staffordshire Potteries star Jonathan Wilkes reprises his panto partnership with Christian Patterson to bring us another joyful hometown winner. As co-directors, these
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:19AMA largely routine first half ends with a truly spectacular flying carpet scene in which a singing Aladdin (Joe McElderry) glides majestically
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:17AMTuesday, December 13, 2016
The all-singing, all live music-playing rock’n’roll panto format is now an established tradition in Stafford. The council-run Gatehouse was among the pioneers
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:57AMMonday, December 12, 2016
The names Cannon and Ball may mean nothing to young theatre goers, but it’s a measure of the comedy duo’s enduring talents
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:33AMPhilip Dart has been writing and directing pantomimes for the Opera House for 25 years now – so it’s fitting that this
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:29AMThis is a mesmerising mix of murder, mayhem and laugh-out-loud comedy that leaves you exhausted just watching the action unfold. Feargus Woods
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:07AMFriday, December 9, 2016
If proof were needed that you don’t have to have big-name stars and a limitless budget to create a successful pantomime, look
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:48PMWednesday, December 7, 2016
This is a simply stunning show that oozes quality through its every pore. It sparkles brilliantly from the opening line and never
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:14AMTuesday, December 6, 2016
On paper this production looks like a winner all the way. With a couple of former pop stars in the lead roles
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:15AMWednesday, November 30, 2016
Writer and director Theresa Heskins can normally be relied upon to come up with a quality seasonal offering and she doesn’t disappoint
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AMMonday, December 15, 2014
Lyceum, Crewe: With her larger-than-life persona, Lisa Riley lights up the Lyceum stage as soon as she sets foot on it and the energy and sheer sense of fun just builds from there.
Read the …
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:29AMBuxton Opera House: Deciding how best to portray the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk has taxed panto planners for generations. Here, the threatening presence of the big guy is achieved so ef…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:27AMWednesday, December 10, 2014
Garrick Theatre, Lichfield: The Garrick has built up a deserved reputation over the years for creating Christmas shows that stand head and shoulders above many of its competitors, largely th…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:51AMMonday, December 8, 2014
Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield: All too often the panto fairy has little to do but recite corny rhymes. That's not the case with Camilla Dallerup, however. As Fairy Godmother, the fo…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:52AMWednesday, June 25, 2014
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: When this lively home-grown production of the Jules Verne classic first appeared in the round at the New Vic in April last year, it screamed "extended run…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:16AMMonday, December 23, 2013
Prince of Wales, Cannock: While the content level of some pantos is woefully thin, this one sweeps in at the other end of the scale. Rather like a Christmas lunch, this is stuffed full of go…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:45AMWednesday, December 18, 2013
Opera House, Buxton: It would be difficult to imagine a more traditional panto than this perfectly pitched offering which scores highly in pretty much every department. Okay, it might not ha…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:43AMMonday, December 16, 2013
Gatehouse, Stafford: As one of the earlier pioneering venues to adopt the rock'n'roll panto format several years ago, the Gatehouse has scored well with the genre on several occasi…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:01AMWednesday, December 11, 2013
Lichfield Garrick Theatre: After last year's sensational Alice in Wonderland musical, few people imagined that Adrian Jackson and Ian Adams, the driving force behind that hit, could eve…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:04AMWednesday, December 4, 2013
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent: Local favourite Jonathan Wilkes has topped the bill at the Regent panto for eight of the past nine years and has always been the undoubted star turn. But whil…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:51AMMonday, September 16, 2013
Lyceum, Crewe: A version of this show was a hit a couple of years ago but it's been dusted down and revamped to accommodate the undoubted talents of Joe Pasquale as Sherlock Holmes. And…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:49AMWednesday, September 11, 2013
Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent: Despite a wealth of books, films and documentaries, this new theatre production is a welcome contribution to helping us understand what made the great Harr…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:54AMWednesday, July 10, 2013
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: As two-handers go, this has to be one of the most challenging plays in modern British theatre. Not only are there multiple roles to tackle but there's a h…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:18AMMonday, July 8, 2013
Shugborough Estate, Stafford: For several years director Peter Mimmack toyed with the idea of bringing Bram Stoker's classic gothic thriller to outdoor summer audiences but decided it w…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:56AMMonday, June 3, 2013
Garrick Theatre, Lichfield: Tupele Dorgu, known to millions as the mouthy factory worker Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street, gives an outstanding performance as hairdresser-turned-undergrad…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:36AMWednesday, April 24, 2013
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: The very mention of the title of this Jules Verne classic is likely to bring even seasoned producers out in a cold sweat. After all, how can you possibly do ju…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:46AMThursday, April 4, 2013
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: While staff and cast at the North Staffordshire theatre in-the-round prepare for their next homegrown production, the New Vic has struck gold with this timeles…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:31AMWednesday, February 27, 2013
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: The endlessly fascinating life and shocking premature death of Ruth Ellis has provided writers with rich pickings for 60 years, and Amanda Whittington's b…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:42AMWednesday, January 2, 2013
Cannock, Prince of Wales (December 24-31), The Muni, Colne, (January 5-20): Some pantos excel in their song and dance while others revel more in comedy. This one, however, is strong in all a…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:07AM 
