REVIEW
★★★★★ 5/5
Mercury Theatre presents
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
★★★★★ 5/5
Mercury Theatre presents
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
In what was to be the first of the ‘super-cold-get-your-coat-and-gloves-out’ days of winter 2022, Southend Theatre Scene ventured north to Colchester to see Mercury Theatre’s latest pantomime offering for 2022 - Beauty and the Beast.
Having undergone a huge refurbishment a couple of years ago, it is clear the Mercury Theatre is at the heart of Colchester’s culture scene and this extends to the production values held by this year’s pantomime. From the moment you step into the auditorium, the production team have done a fantastic job to immerse you in the fun, colourful and exciting world of pantomime theatre with a incredible centre stage sign - ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It is quite clear from the beautifully designed set and lighting design that not just the script has been thought through carefully to bring this show to life.
The mysterious Beast imprisons beautiful Belle in his enchanted castle. Can she escape with the help of her family and melt Beast’s icy heart before it’s too late? Will Cupid’s plan work before the last rose petal falls?
The show has been casted wonderfully with Alexandra Barredo’s ‘first contract’ (as told to us by Betty Bon Bon in a fourth-wall breaking moment!) in the lead role of Belle, a staggering reflection of her talent. She can really sing! Joining Alexandra is a fantastic cast of lead performers each working so well as a team to move the script along and give the audience something to vibe against - and each contributes a different pace, energy and character that is so well balanced. Sasha Latoya as Cupid was an absolute joy (especially her mode of transport - rather you than us, Sasha!). Dale Superville as Almonde was just delightful and super silly for kids (and adults!) to play along with - wee wee (poo poo!). The ensemble cast of dancers and performers are amazing to watch as they go about their pantomime lives and whilst this isn’t a huge cast, it never feels sparse - the staging and blocking has been created so well to maximise this professional cast.
As adults, at what is traditionally a kids performance, it’s always nice to have a risqué performance that ventures over the heads of impressionable minds but ticks the adult box - roll up Betty Bon Bon, expertly played by Antony Stuart-Hicks. Wow. If a role was ever more clearly designed for someone, Antony as a pantomime dame is it. His slick performance, audience connection and quick wit really helped us connect, with the excellent script and wonderful straight-faced performances of this cast. Antony has some incredibly funny jokes and lines and uses these expertly (as he even tells the audience) to gauge the line of ‘too far’. It appears during our performance, that line was QUITE far! A personal highlight was the opening section in which Betty addresses late comers to the audience and those going to the toilet - at one point unexpectedly lurching off the stage and running up the stairs after a poor chap just needing a wee. Not only was it surreal to see a 6ft 5in dame dressed as a cupcake running up some stairs in darkness, it clearly caught the follow-spot operator off guard as they struggled to keep Betty in light! Note to reader: you are not safe! Wait until the interval to go to the toilet!
It would not be fair to wrap up this review without mentioning the excellent illusions and effects that are used throughout the performance. We won’t disclose anything here, saving the magic for your performance, but they are so well performed and seamlessly tie into the performance adding so much. There’s nothing slight of hand or ‘big Vegas magic show’ about it - they are clever moments that add to the magic and give this show the credibility it deserves.
With these wonderful performances comes a well paced, nicely flowing traditional pantomime with some wonderful songs, excellent dances and innovative use of the theatre space. The audience was understandably packed, the theatre was buzzing and if you’re lucky, you may just catch a performance of this before the run sells out. It really is worth your time (oh yes it is!).
Reviewer: Luke Mason
Mercury Theatre
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
Box Office:
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
BSL interpretation: 9 December at 7pm
Relaxed: 13 December at 10:15am
Captioned: 6 January at 7pm
Touch tour: 7 January at 12:30pm
Audio described: 7 January at 2pm
Adult only performances: 10 – 13 January at 7:30pm
Having undergone a huge refurbishment a couple of years ago, it is clear the Mercury Theatre is at the heart of Colchester’s culture scene and this extends to the production values held by this year’s pantomime. From the moment you step into the auditorium, the production team have done a fantastic job to immerse you in the fun, colourful and exciting world of pantomime theatre with a incredible centre stage sign - ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It is quite clear from the beautifully designed set and lighting design that not just the script has been thought through carefully to bring this show to life.
The mysterious Beast imprisons beautiful Belle in his enchanted castle. Can she escape with the help of her family and melt Beast’s icy heart before it’s too late? Will Cupid’s plan work before the last rose petal falls?
The show has been casted wonderfully with Alexandra Barredo’s ‘first contract’ (as told to us by Betty Bon Bon in a fourth-wall breaking moment!) in the lead role of Belle, a staggering reflection of her talent. She can really sing! Joining Alexandra is a fantastic cast of lead performers each working so well as a team to move the script along and give the audience something to vibe against - and each contributes a different pace, energy and character that is so well balanced. Sasha Latoya as Cupid was an absolute joy (especially her mode of transport - rather you than us, Sasha!). Dale Superville as Almonde was just delightful and super silly for kids (and adults!) to play along with - wee wee (poo poo!). The ensemble cast of dancers and performers are amazing to watch as they go about their pantomime lives and whilst this isn’t a huge cast, it never feels sparse - the staging and blocking has been created so well to maximise this professional cast.
As adults, at what is traditionally a kids performance, it’s always nice to have a risqué performance that ventures over the heads of impressionable minds but ticks the adult box - roll up Betty Bon Bon, expertly played by Antony Stuart-Hicks. Wow. If a role was ever more clearly designed for someone, Antony as a pantomime dame is it. His slick performance, audience connection and quick wit really helped us connect, with the excellent script and wonderful straight-faced performances of this cast. Antony has some incredibly funny jokes and lines and uses these expertly (as he even tells the audience) to gauge the line of ‘too far’. It appears during our performance, that line was QUITE far! A personal highlight was the opening section in which Betty addresses late comers to the audience and those going to the toilet - at one point unexpectedly lurching off the stage and running up the stairs after a poor chap just needing a wee. Not only was it surreal to see a 6ft 5in dame dressed as a cupcake running up some stairs in darkness, it clearly caught the follow-spot operator off guard as they struggled to keep Betty in light! Note to reader: you are not safe! Wait until the interval to go to the toilet!
It would not be fair to wrap up this review without mentioning the excellent illusions and effects that are used throughout the performance. We won’t disclose anything here, saving the magic for your performance, but they are so well performed and seamlessly tie into the performance adding so much. There’s nothing slight of hand or ‘big Vegas magic show’ about it - they are clever moments that add to the magic and give this show the credibility it deserves.
With these wonderful performances comes a well paced, nicely flowing traditional pantomime with some wonderful songs, excellent dances and innovative use of the theatre space. The audience was understandably packed, the theatre was buzzing and if you’re lucky, you may just catch a performance of this before the run sells out. It really is worth your time (oh yes it is!).
Reviewer: Luke Mason
Mercury Theatre
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
Box Office:
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
BSL interpretation: 9 December at 7pm
Relaxed: 13 December at 10:15am
Captioned: 6 January at 7pm
Touch tour: 7 January at 12:30pm
Audio described: 7 January at 2pm
Adult only performances: 10 – 13 January at 7:30pm
It’s a tale as old as time and a panto that will be unmissable for the whole family. Discover what it takes for true love to conquer all and whether love is all you really need!
Antony Stuart-Hicks plays Betty Bon Bon, returning to Mercury Theatre following appearances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Jack & the Beanstalk, Snow White and Dick Whittington. He is also co-ordinator for the Mercury Theatre Colchester’s Creatives Mentoring Programme, and has worked extensively as producer, director and writer. His previous acting credits include Legally Blonde (Jersey Opera House), Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Criterion Theatre), Silence! The Musical (Above the Stag), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Rainbow (UK tours), Snow White (Royal Court Liverpool/Central Theatre Chatham), Dick Whittington (Royal Court Liverpool) and Sleeping Beauty (Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple).
Dale Superville plays Almondé, returning to Mercury Theatre following performances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Spamalot, Dick Whittington, James and the Giant Peach, The Wind in the Willow, Jack and the Beanstalk, Habeas Corpus, She Stoops to Conquer and Oh! What a Lovely War. His other work includes Forever Young, Grandpa In My Pocket (Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour), Absent Friends, Dick Whittington, Aladdin and Cinderella (Watford Palace Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Pinocchio (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Return to the Forbidden Planet (The Haymarket, Basingstoke), The Knight Of The Burning Pestle (Mercury Theatre/Barbican), The Wind in the Willows (Oldham Coliseum), Simply Heavenly (Young Vic), Rumpelstiltskin (Unicorn Theatre), Epsom Downs (Nuffield Theatre), Mother Goose and Cinderella (Salisbury Playhouse), Big Nose (Coventry Belgrade Theatre), Having A Ball, Fings Ain’t What They Used T’be, Of Mice and Men (Queens Theatre Hornchurch) and You’re Thinking About Doughnuts (Nottingham Playhouse).
Alexandra Barredo plays Belle. Her theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Chelmsford Civic Theatre).
Daniel Jagusz-Holley plays Prince Friedrich/Beast. He is known for being part of The Kingdom Tenors, a twelve-piece harmony group who made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent. His other credits include ABBAphonic (Royal Albert Hall), Expo 2020 Dubai with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Starlight Express (Starlight Express Theatre, Bochum, Germany), Big Girls Don’t Cry (UK tour) and Hansel and Gretel (Longborough Festival Opera).
Sasha Latoya plays L’Amour/Cupid, returning to Mercury Theatre following Buddy – The Story of Buddy Holly and Aladdin. Her other theatre credits include Yesterday (European tour), RENT (Greenwich Theatre), Page to Stage, Clause the Musical (Landor Theatre), Accidental Song (Canal Café Theatre), Voices and Lyrics (Octagon Theatre, Manchester), Sleeping Beauty, Little Shop of Horrors, Flashdance and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK tours). Her television credits include The B@it; and for film: Banglatown and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Jaimie Pruden plays Spite. Her theatre credits include Little Miss Sunshine (UK tour), Company (Gielgud Theatre), The Secret Garden (Barn Theatre, Cirencester) and Emma (Nebraska Repertory Theatre).
Shelby Speed plays Hemlock. Her theatre credits include Here Comes Santa Claus (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio), Aladdin (Towngate Theatre, Basildon), Gigi, Fantastic Mr Fox (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Singin’ in the Rain (Adelphi Theatre).
Nick Brittain plays Toadstool. His theatre credits include Rapunzel (South Mill Arts/UK tour), Me and My Girl (Frinton Summer Theatre), The Crumple Zone (The King’s Head Theatre), The Cat in the Hat (Turbine Theatre/Edinburgh Pleasance), The Hired Man (Union Theatre) and Hotel for Criminals (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio).
Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain. O’Briain is an Olivier Award-winning director specialising in new writing. His world première production of Rotterdam by Jon Brittain opened in Theatre 503, transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, and went on to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, subsequently playing in the West End, Off-Broadway and touring the UK. His recent acclaimed production of Electrolyte premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, subsequently touring the UK and Ireland, and is in planning for runs across the UK and US. Select further credits include: Operation Mincemeat (Southwark Playhouse), We Like to Move It Move It (UK tour), Saviour (Jermyn Street Theatre), Always Orange (RSC), Mother Christmas (Hampstead Theatre) and PEEP (Edinburgh Fringe/Latitude Festival). O’Briain spent three years with the RSC working on ten productions including the multi award-winning The Histories Cycle (The Guardian’s ‘Production of the Decade’). As an Assistant director he worked alongside Michael Boyd, Dominic Cooke, Simon McBurney, Greg Doran, Jonathan Mumby, Rebecca Gatward & Alan Stanford. He also teaches acting at various drama schools, including RADA, LAMDA, and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Written by Andrew Pollard. Pollard is currently the resident pantomime writer for Greenwich Theatre (Offies Award winner for Best Pantomime 2019), Watford Palace and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. He has also written pantomimes for Salisbury Playhouse, Theatre Royal, Richmond, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield and Chipping Norton Theatre. He has written three stage adaptations of classic children’s novels for Northern Broadsides Theatre Company - The Water Babies, Treasure Island and Heidi – A Goat’s Tail (nominated for ‘Best Children’s Play’ in the T.M.A. Awards and the Adrienne Benham Award for Children’s Theatre Writing). All three shows had Christmas residencies at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, and Heidi was also staged for a Christmas season at Bath Theatre Royal’s young people’s theatre, the egg. He has also co-written and starred in the production Tom, Dick and Harry which premièred at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke before a run at Alexandra Palace earlier this year.
Mercury Theatre
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
Box Office:
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
BSL interpretation: 9 December at 7pm
Relaxed: 13 December at 10:15am
Captioned: 6 January at 7pm
Touch tour: 7 January at 12:30pm
Audio described: 7 January at 2pm
Adult only performances: 10 – 13 January at 7:30pm
Antony Stuart-Hicks plays Betty Bon Bon, returning to Mercury Theatre following appearances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Jack & the Beanstalk, Snow White and Dick Whittington. He is also co-ordinator for the Mercury Theatre Colchester’s Creatives Mentoring Programme, and has worked extensively as producer, director and writer. His previous acting credits include Legally Blonde (Jersey Opera House), Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Criterion Theatre), Silence! The Musical (Above the Stag), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Rainbow (UK tours), Snow White (Royal Court Liverpool/Central Theatre Chatham), Dick Whittington (Royal Court Liverpool) and Sleeping Beauty (Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple).
Dale Superville plays Almondé, returning to Mercury Theatre following performances in Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Spamalot, Dick Whittington, James and the Giant Peach, The Wind in the Willow, Jack and the Beanstalk, Habeas Corpus, She Stoops to Conquer and Oh! What a Lovely War. His other work includes Forever Young, Grandpa In My Pocket (Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour), Absent Friends, Dick Whittington, Aladdin and Cinderella (Watford Palace Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Pinocchio (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Return to the Forbidden Planet (The Haymarket, Basingstoke), The Knight Of The Burning Pestle (Mercury Theatre/Barbican), The Wind in the Willows (Oldham Coliseum), Simply Heavenly (Young Vic), Rumpelstiltskin (Unicorn Theatre), Epsom Downs (Nuffield Theatre), Mother Goose and Cinderella (Salisbury Playhouse), Big Nose (Coventry Belgrade Theatre), Having A Ball, Fings Ain’t What They Used T’be, Of Mice and Men (Queens Theatre Hornchurch) and You’re Thinking About Doughnuts (Nottingham Playhouse).
Alexandra Barredo plays Belle. Her theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Chelmsford Civic Theatre).
Daniel Jagusz-Holley plays Prince Friedrich/Beast. He is known for being part of The Kingdom Tenors, a twelve-piece harmony group who made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent. His other credits include ABBAphonic (Royal Albert Hall), Expo 2020 Dubai with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Starlight Express (Starlight Express Theatre, Bochum, Germany), Big Girls Don’t Cry (UK tour) and Hansel and Gretel (Longborough Festival Opera).
Sasha Latoya plays L’Amour/Cupid, returning to Mercury Theatre following Buddy – The Story of Buddy Holly and Aladdin. Her other theatre credits include Yesterday (European tour), RENT (Greenwich Theatre), Page to Stage, Clause the Musical (Landor Theatre), Accidental Song (Canal Café Theatre), Voices and Lyrics (Octagon Theatre, Manchester), Sleeping Beauty, Little Shop of Horrors, Flashdance and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK tours). Her television credits include The B@it; and for film: Banglatown and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Jaimie Pruden plays Spite. Her theatre credits include Little Miss Sunshine (UK tour), Company (Gielgud Theatre), The Secret Garden (Barn Theatre, Cirencester) and Emma (Nebraska Repertory Theatre).
Shelby Speed plays Hemlock. Her theatre credits include Here Comes Santa Claus (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio), Aladdin (Towngate Theatre, Basildon), Gigi, Fantastic Mr Fox (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Singin’ in the Rain (Adelphi Theatre).
Nick Brittain plays Toadstool. His theatre credits include Rapunzel (South Mill Arts/UK tour), Me and My Girl (Frinton Summer Theatre), The Crumple Zone (The King’s Head Theatre), The Cat in the Hat (Turbine Theatre/Edinburgh Pleasance), The Hired Man (Union Theatre) and Hotel for Criminals (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio).
Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain. O’Briain is an Olivier Award-winning director specialising in new writing. His world première production of Rotterdam by Jon Brittain opened in Theatre 503, transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, and went on to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, subsequently playing in the West End, Off-Broadway and touring the UK. His recent acclaimed production of Electrolyte premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, subsequently touring the UK and Ireland, and is in planning for runs across the UK and US. Select further credits include: Operation Mincemeat (Southwark Playhouse), We Like to Move It Move It (UK tour), Saviour (Jermyn Street Theatre), Always Orange (RSC), Mother Christmas (Hampstead Theatre) and PEEP (Edinburgh Fringe/Latitude Festival). O’Briain spent three years with the RSC working on ten productions including the multi award-winning The Histories Cycle (The Guardian’s ‘Production of the Decade’). As an Assistant director he worked alongside Michael Boyd, Dominic Cooke, Simon McBurney, Greg Doran, Jonathan Mumby, Rebecca Gatward & Alan Stanford. He also teaches acting at various drama schools, including RADA, LAMDA, and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Written by Andrew Pollard. Pollard is currently the resident pantomime writer for Greenwich Theatre (Offies Award winner for Best Pantomime 2019), Watford Palace and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. He has also written pantomimes for Salisbury Playhouse, Theatre Royal, Richmond, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield and Chipping Norton Theatre. He has written three stage adaptations of classic children’s novels for Northern Broadsides Theatre Company - The Water Babies, Treasure Island and Heidi – A Goat’s Tail (nominated for ‘Best Children’s Play’ in the T.M.A. Awards and the Adrienne Benham Award for Children’s Theatre Writing). All three shows had Christmas residencies at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, and Heidi was also staged for a Christmas season at Bath Theatre Royal’s young people’s theatre, the egg. He has also co-written and starred in the production Tom, Dick and Harry which premièred at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke before a run at Alexandra Palace earlier this year.
Mercury Theatre
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
Box Office:
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
26 November 2022 – 15 January 2023
BSL interpretation: 9 December at 7pm
Relaxed: 13 December at 10:15am
Captioned: 6 January at 7pm
Touch tour: 7 January at 12:30pm
Audio described: 7 January at 2pm
Adult only performances: 10 – 13 January at 7:30pm