Saturday, January 10

Tag: Daniel Ellis

Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
North West

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). ...
Jack and the Beanstalk – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Panto is about tradition. Where the big producing houses, and their star-led shows, can never succeed is in developing a joyful familiarity that is nurtured and continued from year to year. That is the superpower of smaller venues, like the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. But not all theatres are aware of that. Some stray from the path of success. It is a pleasure to report that, yet again, the Garrick gets it and has delivered. There was a slight first night hitch, however. Cast illness meant there was a panto dame-shaped hole to fill. Step up show director, and artistic director, Joseph Meighan. After a long rehearsal process, it is the kind of problem that must feel insurmountable backstage. On stage, however, the audience experience was no less at all. In fact, theatregoers ...