Sleeping Beauty - Wow! Theatre Severn have done it again!
The company of Sleeping Beauty. Photo courtesy of Pamela Raith Photography.
Sleeping Beauty written by Paul Hendy playing at Theatre Severn, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8FT until 12 January 2025.
Review by Ellie Blackwell
Blend Wicked, The Descendants and Six and add a dash of Chappell Roan… Then shake it all up with fire juggling, Frankenstein, water fights and two velociraptors for a mere taster of this year's enchantingly unconventional panto for our Shrewsbury readers.
The purple, Disneyesque set erupted with a huge clash of cymbals kicking off the legendary, Theatre Severn Pantomime along with an intro song that happened right within the audience! After their previous history of mind-blowing productions, I was intrigued to see how they would ever manage to top it. But wow, they’ve done it again.
Sleeping Beauty, Nurse Nellie (Brad Fitt) Photo courtesy of Pamela Raith Photography.
Fairy Moonbeam (Dionne Ward-Anderson from Six the Musical) had us wrapped around her magic wand from the get-go, oozing sass being fabulously kick-ass. Shortly after, the evil witch Carabosse (Gemma Sutton) performed a villainous number that could’ve been plucked straight from The Descendants – or even Wicked!
Gloriously cheesy, the next routine introduced this year’s young ensemble who made the stage pop with their commendably unwavering enthusiasm and professionalism. Shortly after, the much-adored Tommy J. Rollason arrived, pedalling ferociously on a tiny trike while the dashing Prince Michael (Christian Southway) made an excellent Theatre Severn debut. You also have to hand it to the exceptional pro- dancers, who also elevated the performance to the highest degree with lifts, pirouettes, and even performing a super slick dance to a Madness classic.
Expect a different show every night. Photo courtesy of Pamela Raith Photography.
But it wouldn’t be a Christmas without part-time Dame and full-time legend Brad Fitt, who blessed the stage with his lovable charm and outrageous outfits for the thirteenth year in a row. Whipping out the old panto traditions yet spicing them up with ingenious twists and bewitchingly dreamlike scenes, there was genuinely no end to their creativity – and hilarity! Yes there was many a dad-joke, but you couldn’t help but laugh with Nurse Nellie and the cheeky Jangles who really are a comedy-gold duo.
Theatre Manager David Jack marvelled at the ‘tonnes of laughter and silliness along the way,’ whilst dancer Nellie Reason expressed her gratitude towards the ‘close-knit’ team. The theatre staff were also having a blast, and according to one member of the team, gleefully adorned with a tiara and wings, the show is ‘different every night’!
Nurse Nellie, Brad Fitt and the company of Sleeping Beauty. Photo courtesy of Pamela Raith Photography.
After awakening the refreshingly feisty princess (Lauren Lane), the two-hour performance ended with the pinkest and bubbliest finale and the biggest feeling of festive cheer. I’m already eagerly awaiting next year’s Dick Whittington!
So, as Nurse Nellie would say: ‘throw your babies in the air’ and don’t miss this compulsory Christmas experience for all the family! Trigger warning: loud noises, flashing lights and a dangerously powerful love magnet – men watch out!
Tickets here: https://www.theatresevern.co.uk/shows/whatson/sleeping-beauty Accessible, performances are also available!
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