Cinderella Panto at Towngate Theatre Basildon Review
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Cinderella Pantomime at the Towngate Theatre
I received an invitation to attend the press night of the Cinderella Pantomime at Towngate Theatre in Basildon, Essex. This production encompassed all the key ingredients of a brilliant panto; excellent comedy, vibrant panto dames, a compelling evil villain and impressive singing and dance performances. The show far exceeded my expectations, offering a refreshing and contemporary experience while preserving the cherished aspects of a traditional pantomime.
The Show
The panto showcased amazing costumes and the stage and set design were not only bright and captivating but also sparkled throughout the entire performance. They had some really clever elements and I loved the enchanting portrayal of Cinderella’s coach travelling to the ball! It really was a magical moment.
The musical aspect was fantastic, featuring a mix of well-known contemporary tracks along with some traditional musical numbers. The comedic brilliance came mainly from the Panto Dames Annie and Fannie, as well as the Evil Baroness. Jokes catered to both young and old, keeping the audience laughing continuously. The kids particularly loved the scene with the Alexa, playing a variety of songs with impeccable comedic timing, it was brilliantly done! The whole audience erupted in laughter. There was some fun audience participation involved and of course lots of booing for the villain. The Wicked Baroness was absolutely brilliant in her role and the panto dames brought cheekiness and flair with their wacky costumes and ridiculous wigs!
Cinderella was such a sweet character with a lovely voice and her chemistry with Buttons and Prince Charming was believable. Buttons was adorable and I loved his cheeky character, the audience loved him too with everybody happily joining in with his ‘Buttons’ dance moves. A special shout out to Dandini, he was such a fun character and really added to the show.
It was such a strong cast, all the main cast were excellent and the ensemble too, right down to the young cast members. They covered so many different dance styles, even finishing with an impressive tap number. They were a joy to watch!
My thoughts on the show
There was never a dull moment in this panto – it was a non-stop, fun-filled musical extravaganza that appealed not only to children but to adults too. They gave panto a cool modern twist, bringing it into the 21st century and with Westend stage quality too. I truly enjoyed every minute of this panto and I would gladly see it again!
The Cinderella Panto at Towngate Theatre in Basildon Essex is really Panto perfection, it dazzled and sparkled, entertained and amused. This show is guaranteed to leave you thoroughly satisfied! It not only met, but exceeded my expectations, delivering a modern and dynamic twist while retaining the beloved elements of classic pantomime. It was an absolute blast!
Cast List:
- Sophie Ladds -The Baroness
- Ian Hallard – Anastasia Hardup
- Stewart Briggs Fantine Hardup
- Alice Hoult Cinderella
- Jack Speck Prince Charming
- Luke Ward-Wilkinson Buttons
- Aaron Bladen Dandini
Running dates:
23rd November 2023 – 2nd January 2024
Venue:
Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Essex
Price:
£13.50 – £27.50.
For more information or to book tickets, please visit Towngate Theatre.
They feature on our list of Christmas Days out without Santa or check out some ideas of free and cheap family days out.
We were invited for press night but all comments and opinions are strictly my own.