After almost two years, we are getting a sneak peek at a part of the Theatr Clwyd redevelopment with the first show back in the main theatre, this years Theatr Clwyd panto, Mother Goose. The rest of the building is not quite ready, with an exciting opening season recently revealed for early Summer 2025.
Theatr Clwyd are back doing what they do best, bringing excellent theatre to audiences, some new but many returning year after year for the famous Rock n Roll pantos that Theatr Clwyd do so well. You could feel the excitement tonight as we enter the auditorium with new carpeting and brand-new chairs, a feeling of coming home but a home that has had a beautiful new makeover.
Mother Goose is once again written by Christian Patterson and brings all the great jokes and innuendos we come to expect from the panto here, with a few new ones added in to give it a newer feeling.
Daniel Lloyd is no longer on stage making us laugh but at the helm as director and what a fantastic job he has done, bringing together a fantastic cast, and bringing some gorgeous moments that add some heart to the piece that gives another level to the panto. Choreography by Jess Williams is fun, exciting, and delivered extremely well by the multi-talented cast. And Musical Director Tayo Akinbode has done a wonderful job in bringing some classic songs to us with the usual Theatr Clwyd twist. A standout part which is a huge well done to Lloyd, Williams and Akinbode was Chasing cars, with beautiful harmonies, gorgeous choreography and stunning story telling.
Phylip Harries returns as the dame, this time Gwladys Goose and is a firm favourite with the audiences, looking lush as ever and delivering jokes as perfect as the pro he is.
Alice Mckenna returns as fairy Billie Eyelash and it’s lovely to see McKenna in a different type of role this year, delivering some gorgeous vocals and brilliant rhyming dialogue.
Ryan Owen as Glennie Goose is fantastic in the role, a loveable character who has the audience on his side all the way through and that waddle is brilliant. Georgina White as Suella De Rhyl is the perfect baddie, playing the audience and delivering killer vocals and Celia Cruwys-Finnigan delivers a wonderful Mari Goose, again bringing us beautiful vocals and a huge amount of comedy.
Joe Butcher brings us the bad but wants to be good guy, Freddie the Fox and is brilliant. But Steve Simmonds as Lord Larry Parry completely stole the show for me with perfect comic timing and brilliant vocals and even when being upstaged by a butterfly, he includes it in his story, even changing song words to include it and carefully catching it and taking it off which was so lovely to see.
The rest of the cast are made up of Dan Bottomley, Imad Eldeen and Chioma Uma who were all incredible in their roles.
Oh, and that whole cast play a multitude of instruments which I think is incredible and shows just how talented these actor/musicians are.
The set is beautiful, designed once again by Adrian Gee, transforming the Moondance Theatre (formerly the Anthony Hopkins Theatre) to transport us from everyday life and inviting us to panto land and the costumes are stunning. Lighting by Johanna Town is perfect and brings the whole piece together and sound by Ian Barnard is brilliant. I love the use of handheld microphones during the big numbers to give it a more Rock n Roll feel.
It was such a joy witnessing this panto and from the reaction of the audience tonight, they felt as much joy as I did.
If you want a fantastic night of entertainment with plenty of laughs, with live music, killer vocals, and a brilliant story, get yourself along to Theatr Clwyd and to Mother Goose.
Running until Sunday 19th January with tickets available from www.theatrclwyd.com
Reviewer: Damian Riverol
Reviewed: 28th November 2024
North West End UK Rating: