Invited Review: 14th December 2024
On Stage Photos courtesy for JAM Marketing
We were lucky enough to be invited to The Tyne Theatre and Opera House last Saturday to see their latest panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
From the same team behind previous spectacular pantomimes Peter Pan, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Tyne Theatre & Opera House has once again teamed up with Enchanted Entertainment to bring the world’s best known and most loved pantomime to the North East.
We chilled out in the newly opened ‘1867’ bar as we waited for the show. Then we grabbed a few snacks (crucial for kids and big kids alike at a panto!) and made our way to our seats. This was the third show of the day but you couldn’t tell as the theatre was immaculate and grand as ever with it’s unmistakable style. We got ourselves comfy and settled in for the show.
A show was bursting at the seems with brilliantly performed and energetic songs, fantastically choreographed dance routines and plenty of laughs.
Panto favourite and regular at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Charlie Richmond kept the narrative of the show going with aplomb starring as Snow Whites friend Muddles. Charlie had the audience in fits of laughter with a host of fast paced puns and naughty innuendo, with something for all ages.
Lewis Denny worked particularly well alongside him as his Mother, the unforgettable Dame Dotty. They made a great comedy duo and bounced off each other well, making it feel effortless and fun. Everything you want from a panto dame and comic.
Snow White was played by the impressive newcomer Grace Anne Davison. She made her panto debut after landing the role in the open auditions this September. The singer and actress from South Shields was a natural and made it look like she was a seasoned pro!
She starred alongside 2022 Dancing on Ice winner Regan Gascoigne, as Prince Gazza of Gosforth! The pair performed impeccably, banging out songs by Madness, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift, to name just a few! The crowd loved these moments and really joined in.
The switch between the classic story, songs, dance routines and the comedic capers was really well managed and balanced. There was a lot of audience participation, with the stars blurring the lines between the stage and the audience. This was at its best during the traditional 12 days of Christmas routine and when the Seven Dwarfs first appeared on the scene. It was great to see, with good humour and just a hint of jeopardy as audience members wondered if they were going to get roped in and end up on stage, or worse!
The Seven Dwarfs were played brilliantly by Sandra Maria Germann, Luke Pendlebury, Iwan Parry, Richard Blenkiron, Claire Ibbitson, Tina Anin, and Max Anin. Each of the classic well known characters had a Geordie twist.
No panto is complete without a good villain though! And this was no exception. Penelope McDonald brought the necessary evil and cunning to the show, feeding off every boo from the screaming audience members. Alongside her she had her trusty Magic Mirror to consult, with its effects getting the kids in the audience a gasp.
Also helping/hindering her nefarious plans were her hapless henchmen, Twist and Pulse. The dancing duo, first brought to everyones attention by ‘Britains Got Talent‘, were perfect for the role. They showed great comic timing and brought a lot to the performance, with some great set pieces that had the audience enthralled. All the classic break dance moves were on show, pops, locks, robots, slow motion runs and even a flip. The kids around us were amazed by their routines and I’d be willing to be a few parents had to put up with their kids busting some moves in their bedrooms that night!
The whole performance was accompanied by a host of brilliant dancers of all ages. One stand out was Ellie Openshaw, as the Forest Fairy. She definitely looked like one to watch out for in the future.
Throughout the whole performance there was the brilliant live score from the band. This was particularly impressive and gave the panto the big show feel. They didn’t miss a beat and made it look effortless. No mean feat given the fast pace and energy of the tunes.
All in all it was a brilliant performance and one we would definitely recommend to our readers. It was perfectly paced, balance and had a great combination of humour, dance, acting and audience participation.
Perfect for kids and big kids alike! 10/10
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You can see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Tyne Theatre and Opera House until Sunday 5th Jan 2025.
For more information click here…
There is also an Adult only performances on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th January at 7:30pm. These promise to be a raunchy affair and are age restricted to 18+