So, I have something a little different for you today. Rather than making a sweet treat, I’m sharing my thoughts on a pantomime I went to see recently.
I thought I’d leave the house for a change, so todays post isn’t a recipe – it’s a review of sorts. I’m not a regular theatre goer, I just enjoy the odd pantomime when they are on – this 2021/2022 show at Birmingham Hippodrome was Goldilocks and the three bears.
The last pantomime I saw was Snow White and the seven dwarves, back at the start of 2020. Theatres were hit hard when lockdowns were introduced, meaning shows were either cancelled or rescheduled. I won’t lie, it felt a little weird being back in a theatre after so long – the atmosphere was brilliant. Every other person there was simply looking for a good time, apart from the mask wearing and hand sanitising, things felt no different to when I visited last time.
It was a very simple process of getting into the hippodrome, I simply showed the guys on the entrance my vaccine pass via the NHS website and then had the tickets scanned at the next station and a quick bag check, all in all it took under 5 minutes – which takes out some of the stress of going out to a venue with the covid restrictions in place.
I went to the matinee show and was seated on the second row from the stage, meaning I had a brilliant view. I didn’t think there would still be tickets available to sit this close to the stage, especially considering I booked this pretty last moment. I was close enough to the front that when fireworks went off, you felt the heat from them and when water was thrown into the audience, I got caught each and every time.
The show itself was nothing short of amazing! It was a non-stop full of laughs and amazing entertainment. The show is goldilocks and the three bears but with a little twist, it involves two circuses – one good and the other bad. We start with panto legend Matt Slack returning as Ringo the ringmaster and Andrew Ryan as the panto Dame Betty Barnum. This years special guest was Jason Donovan as Count Ramsay of Erinsborough – as you can imagine there were tons of references to Neighbours, Kylie Minogue and other theatre performances.
There should be an honourable mentions for Doreen Tipton, this time around she was playing the lion tamer. It’s also worth mentioning everybody else who performed, as they nailed it and gave the best performance they could, totally worth booking tickets, if there is any available!
So, all in all would I recommend booking tickets for the show? Absolutely. You’d be a fool not to book any, even if this isn’t your sort of thing usually, give it a try. I didn’t think I’d laugh so much – all of the adult humour and general referencing to everything was the icing on the cake – so don’t miss out, go and watch the show today (theres under a week left until the final show).
Here is the cast, ensemble and supporting acts at the end of the show, just before the final curtain.
I didn’t want to give too much away about the show as it would ruin it for anybody else who wants to see it. If you’re looking for something different to do on an afternoon or an evening, this may be the thing for you. I won’t lie, I never thought I’d like pantomimes as I was expecting them to be boring and lacklustre but they’re completely the opposite. When you go to a performance at somewhere like the Birmingham Hippodrome – you’re guaranteed a good time. The set, the lights and the performers give everything they can to give you 2 hours of pure entertainment – the perfect distraction from the current situation.
This is also the perfect way to get theatre back up and running, so if you’re interested, don’t forget to book your tickets for the final few shows – I promise you won’t regret it. Check out the Birmingham Hippodrome website for more information.
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