A hair-raising riotously risqué ride of a panto that leaves the audience ‘blown’ away. With more hair references and possible related character names than a Vidal Sassoon advert, Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Co give the Sheffield audience plenty of style with its close shaves and outlandishly wild coiffure of a delivery. With a community cast of 45 (including a couple of nits), led by a team of 9 senior ‘stylists’ and a band of six ‘colourists’ under the kaleidoscope Musical direction of Steve Trotter, HHTC embellish the literary locks of Tom Whalley’s creative pantomime script – Rapunzel with flair, panache and artistry.
From the nine slick stylists…Will Fairy Dandruff gain her wings? Will King Bouffant ever find his beloved daughter Rapunzel? Will Prince Ryder ever decide which way he wants to smoulder? Will Mother Gothel come a cropper? Will Dame Fanny Follicle and Pascal make a living in stylising the action? And will Gerald the Herald blow on cue? All with a snip of Frank Spin-atra (David Jefferson) thrown in for good measure. I never said the ‘family panto’ was squeaky clean! But hasn’t the panto style always had an appeal, with plenty of double entendre’s, for the whole family!
Under the direction of Matthew Walker with Jane Jefferson Blythe as his assistant the show is none stop and never gives the audience a moment with its quick fire and constant gags. The visual comedy matches the speed of the spoken delivery, and the two Walker brothers orchestrate the show and its mishaps with professional ease. Always in control – even in the seeming chaos, the two brothers – Fanny Follicle (Matthew Walker) and Pascal (Joseph walker) are exceptional both in performance and in their knowledge of the show and its intended direction. Lou Loftus as Fairy Dandruff is a likeable and quirky narrator with a confident and polished delivery and a firm audience favourite. Mother Gothel (Sarah Buckley) adds the evil adversary to the production and does so well, she has a great singing voice, and I particularly liked the Blondie classic – One Way or Another. Sam Widdowson as a comedic, rather than heroic Prince Ryder, also delivers some strong vocal numbers with a great singing voice, and his duet Heaven is a Place on Earth with Sara Ross (Rapunzel) is particularly enjoyable. Ross, in the title role, gives a head-strong teenage feel to the character and does so with detail and confidence. Andrew Stansall as King Bouffant bares the the brunt of much hilarity on stage, with adlibbing and corpsing a plenty from the cast to cover those little lapses of concentration or rehearsal. Or was it all part of Walker’s direction? – Audiences certainly love those moments! Stuart Ogden always milks the audience in delivery and has Gerald the Herald role gives him the prop to fill a 6 pinter! His enthusiasm in the boy band number ‘Everybody’ along with Widdowson, Joseph Walker and Stansall is pure comedy gold.
The ensemble are busy and well-rehearsed with choreography by Hayley Wilbourne and Beth Cooke and it is a delight to see the vast array of ages on stage embodying all that is community theatre. But, with very few children in the audience – it was a school night – the show had an almost entirely adult audience! Although acknowledged by the formidably talented Matthew Walker as Dame Fanny Follicle; with his endless costume changes (Molly Limpets Theatrical Emporium); he switched on the expressive facial gymnastics and razor sharp wit and blew the gags out of the salon with his risqué sarcasm and nonchalance. The 4th wall well and truly demolished. Whilst Walker is always and rightly so, dominant in role he does not upstage the rest of the talented Cast but remains the ‘Artistic Head Stylist’ of the organised mayhem! Clever. A bold statement I know, but I have to say …. Matthew Walker is the strongest Dame I have seen and I have seen hundreds! He has right amount of all that makes a Grand Dame. See him in role and dare to contradict me. Head Stylist, Joseph Walker (Pascal) has found himself a real niche in role and I find all his creations collectively beguiling. He has great command of the stage and is very likeable with a strong singing voice and polished dance moves – a very strong, professional persona, he could make his living from this in a snip!
Rapunzel (possibly the most risqué panto I have seen this season?) is at The Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield until Sunday 1st February 2026 and it is a delight! I never stopped laughing and my smile made my cheeks hurt! It’s pacy, energetic hilarity, artistically led by the Walker brothers is a cut above the rest! Don’t miss your appointment with this one – a great night out for the whole family but with plenty styled for the Adults – assured to leave you feeling fresh and coiffured all over!!
Reviewer: Tracey Bell
Reviewed: 28th January 2026
North West End UK Rating: