Hold tight for my first panto of the year, this time the annual extravaganza from CBeebies, which opens in cinemas on 22 Nov! This year the team tackle the story of Beauty and the Beast, that perennial story of love triumphing over evil.
Beau (Rhys Stephenson) is the most popular guy in town, and he knows it. When he meets the Thorn Fairy (Maddie Moote), she puts a spell on him which transfers his attractive looks and personality to her so she becomes the popular girl, and he assumes the fur and claws of a beast.
Meanwhile, Bella (Puja Panchkaty), a keen gardener, is growing up with her materialistic siblings (Rebecca Keatley and Nigel Clarke) and her doting Pops (Justin Fletcher).
While they list all the expensive presents they are expecting this Christmas, Bella only seeks to find something special for Pops, and this takes her on a journey to Briar Cottage and the home of the Beast.
Thorn Fairy, now called Rosie, poses for selfies with the townsfolk and pretends to be Bella’s new best friend, but her real friend Red (Evie Pickerill) is having none of it.
There are excellent production values in this pantomime, which is introduced by Dodge, CBeebies’s friendly dog, and narrated by the Snow Raven (James McKenzie).
The songs by Banks & Wag are excellent – remember to take note of Dodge at the beginning when he teaches you the actions for “Dig A Little Deeper” – and the technical elements are all very well done.
There’s good support from Tyler Collins and Jennie Dale as a pair of Wolves, and Freddie Pooley and Peter James as Alice in Wonderland-inspired Gnomes, with George Webster’s DJ Christmas and Ben Cajee’s Rudi rounding out the cast, and a special appearance from Steel of Gladiators.
If you can’t get to the cinema from 22 Nov to see this (tickets here) you can watch the show on BBC iPlayer from 7 Dec, where you can also find the previous nine CBeebies pantomimes.
Chris Jarvis directed this year’s panto, which was filmed on stage at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. It follows Robin Hood and is just as entertaining, going down a storm in our house where we heartily booed the baddie and cheered on the heroes.
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Images and stills supplied by Strike Media