A warm welcome greeted me as I went to see the opening night of Encore Theatre Company’s (ETC) 2024 pantomime Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood and this warm welcome was not just aimed at me – if only all front of house staff were as attentive and jolly as Encore’s lot all pantomimes would have a head start with the audience participation! What a warming feeling on a cold January night!
Established in 1944, Encore is a well-known company in the local area and boasts The Lord St Oswald (6th Baron St Oswald) of Nostell Priory as its Honorary Patron. What made this production special to me was the inclusivity on the stage as well as off. It really was a diverse community performance and just how panto should be – a collective experience for the cast and the audience – as one doesn’t exist without the other!
That said, ’On with the show’! Written by Sue and Andrew Sheppard and directed by Sue, the story follows the well-known tale of Robin Hood and his love for Maid Marion pitted against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and his scheming for power and wealth at the expense of his deceased brother’s children, the Babes in the Wood. With the traditional pantomime back cloths and minimal set the cast did a fine job of filling the stage and transporting the audience between castle, woods and the land of Ice and Snow. Sound and Lighting by PMT Events added all the extra atmosphere and made sure we cheered, hissed and booed in all the right places. The band sounded well under the Musical Direction of Joel Griffin and with Choreography by Amanda Walker and Bev Maher they collectively made sure the mood and tone were apparent., although I do feel some of the full company numbers and children’s numbers would have benefitted from shortening a bit. That said, it was wonderful to see a pantomime with children on stage, so many seem to have sacrificed this this year and it is the perfect vehicle to encourage and instil a love of performance at a young age. The children did a wonderful job, and I spotted a few up and coming thespians in the making! Backed up by the ensemble, the casting was well chosen, and all the principals were well suited to their roles.
Initially and periodically greeted by Alex Bush as the Narrator, the story flowed and Bush made sure the audience were revved up at all times with more than a few adult jokes. The role of Robin Hood was played well by Becky Thompson and she had some lovely vocal numbers with her new found love – Wendy Westmoreland’s Maid Marian. Westmoreland’s role was larger than in many Robin Hood pantomimes and she handled this well and with flair. Robin’s Merry Men – the sensible Friar Tuck (Matt Gibb) and the outlandish Will Scarlett played by Tom Bucktrout added the comedy to the trio. Bucktrout’s costume sparkled as much as he did on stage! The very young Isla Whipp did a larger than life comedy performance as the Giant and very nearly stole the show… well done! I must mention the man of many ‘dodgy’ accents Richard Goodall who was hilarious as Hoots Mc Groots, King of Snow and Ice and King Richard – who would have thought brothers could be from different countries in the Uk! The Babes, Kurt (Bobby Cook) and Anna (Paige Gray) are little Stars in the making and were well rehearsed, believable and very secure in role.
Audience participation is paramount to Panto and the Encore cast made sure it was front and centre of the production. None more so than Biff (Emily Dench) and Baff (Amy Lewise Spurgeon-Hill); the Sheriff of Nottingham’s hapless henchmen who were show stealers and very amusing, Spurgeon Hill in particular has exceptional comedic timing and expression and her dad jokes were delivered to perfection. Just a note: You were right, I do fancy sausage, chips, egg and beans for tea now!
Jordan Whipp played a very animated Sheriff of Nottingham and deserved every hiss and boo he got! I really liked him in this role, and he could give a few tips to some of the professional panto’s baddies I have seen this season! Then comes in his unexpected nemesis in the form of the Babes Nanny, Dolly Dumpling played; as should be by a man in frock; by Lee Gray. Gray is a natural in this role and I only wish after the duet with Maid Marion, Gray had had a solo to show the audience that powerhouse of a voice! I do hope he continues in the Dame role in future in a production that gives him the more traditional greater control of the stage and a larger role.
From the ‘It’s behind you!’ and the audience sing-alongs to the messy baking scene, Encore’s panto has it all, for all ages, from silly Dad jokes to the double entendres and a real feel-good factor! The moral of all pantomime – the good wins over evil and this production won over the audience!
Thank you for a wonderful evening’s immersive entertainment Encore!
Reviewer: Tracey Bell
Reviewed: 11th January 2024
North West End UK Rating: