Is it even Christmas if you haven’t been to a pantomime?
It honestly feels like forever since we have been to the theatre with all the restrictions we have had over the past two years, so I was so excited to go to the theatre and even more so to take my little boy to his first-ever panto!
We headed over to Crewe Lyceum Theatre in Cheshire to watch Sleeping Beauty on opening night with comedian and TV personality Bobby Davro, X-Factor Finalist Amelia Lily and Cheshire’s best-loved panto dame Malcolm Lord.
It was our first time visiting this theatre which was lovely with a real intimate feel. We were guided to our seats and greeted with a real buzz of excitement from the audience who were clearly just excited as we were!
Bobby Davro played the palace jester and what a jester he was, in his 43rd pantomime he had the audience roaring with laughter from start to finish with some extreme adult humour! Amelia Lily played the stunning Sleeping Beauty Aurora who absolutely wowed the audience with her voice. The wonderful Malcom Lord returned for his fifth season at Crewe where the stage truly looked like home to him. My favourite character of the evening had to be Carabosse played by Bethany Alice Black whose voice was incredible, my two-year-old boy truly feared her which quickly melted away when the audience began to boo her in true panto fashion. Chris Durtnall was every inch of Prince Harry of Haslington and the beautiful Isabella Mason whose gentle demure and angelic voice beautifully portrayed The Good Fairy.
My favourite part of the show had to be the rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas which the whole audience participated in with loo rolls being flung everywhere! From the brilliant comedy, fantastic songs and mesmerising dancers, what was most beautiful to see was how much fun they were having on stage and their fondness of each other really shone through.
Bobby Davro lovingly dedicated the show to Bobby Ball and praised the cast and production company Crossroads for producing such a show with the restrictions and limitations in place, which I must say until he mentioned it, I had even noticed. It was such a small cast with only six actors and four dancers however their stage presence as a whole was outstanding.
I honestly forgot how much fun the panto was for all the family! My partner stayed home with our baby and we took our friend and her daughter, but my other half would have died with laughter throughout and the fantastic lighting would have fascinated my little girl.
The showing ended with a standing ovation which was truly deserved. If you have booked already then please do as you will not be disappointed!
Cast
Muddles – Bobby Davro
Queen Alexandra – Malcolm Lord 1`
Sleeping Beauty – Amelia Lily
Carabosse – Bethany Alice Black
Prince – Chris Durtnall
The Good Fairy – Isabella Mason
Director – David Fleeshman
Choreographer – Thomass Spratt
Musical Director/Keys 1 – Phil Shute
Company Stage Manager – Daniel Kay
Deputy Stage Manager – James Theobold
Technical Assistant Stage Manager – Robert Laws
Assistant Stage Manager Bookcover – Zoe Morgan
Bass Guitar – Alex Moore
Drums/Percussion – David Waller
Head of Wardrobe – Samantha Gibson
Wardrobe Deputy – Liz Giliet
How much do the tickets cost?
Tickets are priced from £18 to £47.75.
How do I book tickets to watch Sleeping Beauty?
Tickets can be booked by calling the box office at 0343 310 0050 or by visiting Crewe Lyceum’s website here.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
The show will run until Sunday, 2 January 2022. There will be evening shows at 7pm while morning shows at 10.30am and matinee shows at 1pm/2pm. Please check Crewe Lyceum Theatre’s website for full details on exact timings.
Where is Crewe Lyceum Theatre?
Things to note:
Touch-Free Tickets – A confirmation email will be sent when you book; and e-tickets will be sent closer to the time of the event. We’ll be scanning tickets on arrival, so please have them ready. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you will need to print your e-ticket from home.
Checking In – You’ll be able to check-in via QR code using the NHS COVID 19 app when you arrive.
During your visit – From 19 July 2021 the Government is recommending the continued wearing of face coverings in crowded indoor spaces. Crewe Lyceum Theatre are operating in a Covid-safe manner and following all guidelines, but would ask customers to remain considerate of fellow audience members.
Handwashing – They’ll provide hand sanitiser stations throughout the venue. Please use them and/or wash your hands regularly using soap and warm water.
Keeping Your Distance – Out of courtesy to others, please continue to leave as much space as you can. Please also take note of directional signage and follow any one-way systems that may be in place.
Cleaning, ventilation & cloakroom – They’ll be cleaning all areas more frequently and thoroughly, including wiping down surfaces throughout your visit. We’ll also be increasing fresh-air ventilation throughout the building wherever possible. The cloakroom will be closed, so please keep your belongings to a minimum.
Cashless Payments – All purchases can be made using contactless or card payment methods – it’s quicker, reduces contact and is more secure. They are no longer accepting cash payments, although you might need some cash for parking and merchandise for some shows.
About Crewe Lyceum Theatre
The Crewe Lyceum Theatre was established in 1911 and is the only Edwardian theatre in Cheshire East. At over 100 years old, it’s an institution in Crewe and Cheshire. In 2012, HQ Theatres and Hospitality took on operation of the theatre on behalf of Cheshire East Council. The theatre was given an interior facelift culminating with a gala debut of a new restaurant and Circle Suite in May 2012. Today the Lyceum Theatre is the place to be in Cheshire for great evenings of entertainment in luxurious surroundings, enjoyable afternoons of dining or taking the stage for weddings and functions. The Lyceum Theatre also offers opportunities for corporate hire and filming opportunities for television or movies. It is operated by HQ Theatres & Hospitality on behalf of Cheshire East Council. The Lyceum has an exciting year-round lineup of top comedians, live music, drama, interactive evenings and much more. The Lyceum Studio is a new 110-seat venue within the Lyceum Theatre showcasing new writing, performance and comedy, as well as community events.
Review by: Chloe O’Malley
You may want to read this:
Review: Peter Pan the High-Flying Pantomime Adventure at Crewe Lyceum
Review: Beauty and the Beast at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Review: Cinderella at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent
Photo credit: Crewe Lyceum Theatre / Wes Webster Photography
* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
18 comments
That is so so cool!!! I love and miss going to theatres, soon I hope!!! Amazing play…
Thank you, my family enjoyed watching the panto
We love Sleeping Beauty! I would love to see a live show like this.
It absolutely would be, hope you get to watch it
Wow, you’ve really been hitting the theatres recently. This is probably my favourite of those you’ve visited so far. I’d love to go see it myself.
Yes we have, and enjoyed every moment of it as well
This looks like a fun and entertaining show to watch!
It was a superb live performance
Sleeping Beauty is such a classic and a fun story. Seeing it come to life like this is so incredible! The show looks fabulous and exciting.
It was, everyone at the theatre loved it so much, you could hear it in their laughs
Long since I have been to a theatre. Loving the scenes of the act a lot.
Thank you, it was really magical
I absolutely adore the story of Sleeping Beauty. I know I would love to see this in person for myself. It sounds like it was such a wonderful experience.
It certainly was, I loved it and so did my son
Sleeping Beauty is a classic Christmas pantomime show! It looks like a great production and a good one for families too.
It definitely is and a fab show indeed, we loved watching it
How fun! This looks like such a great live show to go and see! Love it!
It is a fab show, still tickets left