Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Altrincham Garrick’s ethos of offering ‘something for everyone’ was certainly present tonight as I caught a mid-week performance of their annual Christmas pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Not everyone is a fan of pantomime, myself included, and ultimately it is about children, families and friends coming together to have fun and silliness during the festive period and it was wonderful to see such evident joy and participation in the faces of young ones and the adults having a much needed and very welcome laugh.

Set in Dame Gertie’s circus, hard up business owner Dame Gertie (Joseph Meighan) and her useless son, Silly Billy (Daniel Ellis) desperately need to pay their overdue ground rent to local landowner, Baron Wasteland (Mark Watkins), father of Goldilocks (Elise Evans). Desperate to avoid being evicted in favour of evil rival Ringmaster Heinkel (Alexander Day) and his mischievous sidekick, Snot (Jamie King) Dame Gertie and Silly Billy need to save their beloved circus. It’s a simple story; good versus evil, skullduggery and subterfuge, misunderstanding and coincidence, all expressed through song and dance, a wide range of characters, slapstick, audience participation and the belief that a happy ending is there for the taking. It will all be ok.

It was more than OK. The children present had an absolute ball. Skilfully guided through the story by the charmingly daft Silly Billy, the sharp-witted Daniel Ellis brought endless energy and chaos to the production alongside the hilarious Joseph Meighan as his overbearing mother Dame Gertie. The excellent rapport between this double act and their connection with the audience ensured the multilayered humour. The gags for the adults and the naughtiness for the younger members of the audience, provided constant mirth among the enthusiastic crowd and full participation in songs, jokes and loyalties to the characters destined to win the moral battle of the night.

There are so many expected conventions in pantomime and this, cleverly written by Tom Whalley, is a good choice. The puns and innuendoes, wordplay, topical references, local gags, the gentle teasing of someone on the front row (tonight it was Aaron), the singing of Happy Birthday to a child (Megan), the shouting, the chanting, the singing.  Credit to the Creative Team for their direction and imagination in staging a comically well judged production that gave room for them all.

The strong cast handled the unexpected nature of pantomime with absolute professionalism and exquisite comic timing. Additionally, this production shone in terms of the costumes, props and set. Credit to Mike Shaw and his wardrobe department and to the huge team ‘behind the scenes’ who created a visually stunning piece of festive theatre and demonstrated skills of the absolute highest theatrical quality emphasized by fun and imaginative lighting and effects.

Whilst many people may head into cities at this time of year to see big names from the telly in expensive productions and at great cost not everyone can afford, I feel I have to point out that here is an example of a superb production in our local community, by supremely talented people in our local community, at less than half of the price and I reckon more than double the fun.  Great to see.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears plays until Sunday 4th January 2026. Tickets available at: https://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/booking

Reviewer: Lou Kershaw

Reviewed: 11th December 2025

North West End UK Rating: