REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
SLEEPING BEAUTY
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026
TOWNGATE THEATRE, ST MARTIN’S SQUARE, BASILDON, ESSEX, SS14 1DL
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
SLEEPING BEAUTY
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026
TOWNGATE THEATRE, ST MARTIN’S SQUARE, BASILDON, ESSEX, SS14 1DL
It hardly seems like a week or two ago since the sun was baking the pavements, but the seasons have duly changed. Christmas is fast approaching. This can only mean one thing: It’s panto season again!
On Friday night, in appropriately cold, wet weather, I made my way to the Towngate Theatre, in the heart of the “Magical Kingdom of ‘Basildonia’’ for this year’s offering, Sleeping Beauty. As soon as you walk into the spacious theatre foyer, festooned with lights, and decorations, all thoughts of the rain outside are banished. The buzz is palpable, and the large crowd is assembled in the cozy, warm auditorium, waiting for the show to begin.
From the start, even before the curtain goes up, there is great energy from the ensemble, welcoming us all in with their opening number. First onstage is the ebullient, Essex Fairy Moonbeam, (Sophia Ragavelas) who reads from a huge tome, the tale of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the wicked Carabosse (Sophie Ladds) to prick her finger on a spindle and fall asleep for a hundred years.
If this sounds a bit serious, do not worry. The story is just an excuse for the fun and frolicks that follow. We meet the lovely Aurora herself (Jazz Cave,) her friend Jangles, (Michael Alyotis) and Nurse Nelly, (Ian Hallard). It is these latter two who get the most stage time. Working together with ease, they soon get the crowd on side.
Nurse Nelly appears in ever more outrageous, eye-popping costumes, naughty smile and glinting eyes always hinting at the mischief to come. Hallard is a terrific Dame. He is hilarious and very entertaining to watch. He has a great rapport with Alyotis as Jangles. Their many scenes together are lots of fun. They work tirelessly all night, giving the audience a great deal to do as well. At times, it’s quite exhausting trying to remember what we are supposed to shout out and when.
To this end, l did at times wonder whether the first act, running at 70 minutes, was a tad overloaded with content. One routine, telling a story using posters of West End Musicals, seemed a bit too ‘adult’ for the kids in the audience. Cutting it would bring the running time down a bit.
Every panto has to have a baddie, and in this one, Sophie Ladds is a hoot. Her Carabosse is hilarious, stomping around the stage, constantly disgruntled at having to put in so much effort. She is very funny indeed.
Every Sleeping Beauty needs her Prince, and Thomas Griffiths fills the brief with great panache, displaying a fine light tenor voice along the way. Luckily, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, as one of his ballads gets interrupted at a most unfortunate moment!
One word of warning, if you’re a man and sit in the front couple of rows, where Nurse Nelly can see you, it is possible that you may unwittingly become the final member of the cast. On the night I attended, Ben, on a family outing with his wife Kate and their children, provided the perfect foil here. Some of the funniest comedy of the night was at his expense, and he was a great sport. If I went back to see it again, whoever is sitting in that front row has a tough act to follow.
The design team have surpassed themselves this year, set and costume-wise. They have a huge stage to work with, and every inch is used. The first half finale is spectacular, with fire bursting from torches, during the song “Hell Fire.” It is really thrillingly sung by everyone. They also provide a special floor for the big slapstick number in the second half. Watching everyone get thoroughly soaked was so enjoyable, and we don’t escape either. Water pistols are aimed and fired directly into the audience liberally.
This fast paced panto is written by Paul Hendy and directed with precision by Dorcas Wood. Along with their hardworking MD, Matthew Reeve, on keys, they have come up with a spectacular show, which does not need to rely on star names to fill seats. Instead, it offers a talented, hard working cast, who give their all to ensure everyone who sees this pantomime has a great night out…or afternoon, if you are going to a matinee.
Review: Andrew Walters
4 stars but 5 for cast involvement
On Friday night, in appropriately cold, wet weather, I made my way to the Towngate Theatre, in the heart of the “Magical Kingdom of ‘Basildonia’’ for this year’s offering, Sleeping Beauty. As soon as you walk into the spacious theatre foyer, festooned with lights, and decorations, all thoughts of the rain outside are banished. The buzz is palpable, and the large crowd is assembled in the cozy, warm auditorium, waiting for the show to begin.
From the start, even before the curtain goes up, there is great energy from the ensemble, welcoming us all in with their opening number. First onstage is the ebullient, Essex Fairy Moonbeam, (Sophia Ragavelas) who reads from a huge tome, the tale of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the wicked Carabosse (Sophie Ladds) to prick her finger on a spindle and fall asleep for a hundred years.
If this sounds a bit serious, do not worry. The story is just an excuse for the fun and frolicks that follow. We meet the lovely Aurora herself (Jazz Cave,) her friend Jangles, (Michael Alyotis) and Nurse Nelly, (Ian Hallard). It is these latter two who get the most stage time. Working together with ease, they soon get the crowd on side.
Nurse Nelly appears in ever more outrageous, eye-popping costumes, naughty smile and glinting eyes always hinting at the mischief to come. Hallard is a terrific Dame. He is hilarious and very entertaining to watch. He has a great rapport with Alyotis as Jangles. Their many scenes together are lots of fun. They work tirelessly all night, giving the audience a great deal to do as well. At times, it’s quite exhausting trying to remember what we are supposed to shout out and when.
To this end, l did at times wonder whether the first act, running at 70 minutes, was a tad overloaded with content. One routine, telling a story using posters of West End Musicals, seemed a bit too ‘adult’ for the kids in the audience. Cutting it would bring the running time down a bit.
Every panto has to have a baddie, and in this one, Sophie Ladds is a hoot. Her Carabosse is hilarious, stomping around the stage, constantly disgruntled at having to put in so much effort. She is very funny indeed.
Every Sleeping Beauty needs her Prince, and Thomas Griffiths fills the brief with great panache, displaying a fine light tenor voice along the way. Luckily, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, as one of his ballads gets interrupted at a most unfortunate moment!
One word of warning, if you’re a man and sit in the front couple of rows, where Nurse Nelly can see you, it is possible that you may unwittingly become the final member of the cast. On the night I attended, Ben, on a family outing with his wife Kate and their children, provided the perfect foil here. Some of the funniest comedy of the night was at his expense, and he was a great sport. If I went back to see it again, whoever is sitting in that front row has a tough act to follow.
The design team have surpassed themselves this year, set and costume-wise. They have a huge stage to work with, and every inch is used. The first half finale is spectacular, with fire bursting from torches, during the song “Hell Fire.” It is really thrillingly sung by everyone. They also provide a special floor for the big slapstick number in the second half. Watching everyone get thoroughly soaked was so enjoyable, and we don’t escape either. Water pistols are aimed and fired directly into the audience liberally.
This fast paced panto is written by Paul Hendy and directed with precision by Dorcas Wood. Along with their hardworking MD, Matthew Reeve, on keys, they have come up with a spectacular show, which does not need to rely on star names to fill seats. Instead, it offers a talented, hard working cast, who give their all to ensure everyone who sees this pantomime has a great night out…or afternoon, if you are going to a matinee.
Review: Andrew Walters
4 stars but 5 for cast involvement
SLEEPING BEAUTY
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026
TOWNGATE THEATRE, ST MARTIN’S SQUARE, BASILDON, ESSEX, SS14 1DL
TICKETS FROM: £15 - £29. FAMILY TICKETS AND GROUP RATES AVAILABLE
BOX OFFICE: 01268 205 300
www.towngatetheatre.co.uk
YOUTUBE: @towngatetheatre
FACEBOOK: /towngate
INSTAGRAM: @towngatetheatre
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2026
TOWNGATE THEATRE, ST MARTIN’S SQUARE, BASILDON, ESSEX, SS14 1DL
TICKETS FROM: £15 - £29. FAMILY TICKETS AND GROUP RATES AVAILABLE
BOX OFFICE: 01268 205 300
www.towngatetheatre.co.uk
YOUTUBE: @towngatetheatre
FACEBOOK: /towngate
INSTAGRAM: @towngatetheatre