SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS

I was lucky to have been invited to another Anton Benson Production. This time it was to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the new venue, Northwich Memorial Court.

The cast consisted of Edwina Currie as the Wicked Queen, Ex Corrie star Bruce Jones as her loyal Henchman and Celebrity Big Brother Runner Up, Austin Armacost as The Prince. There were a few sound technical difficulties in the first half, the microphones were way too loud and gave me a headache, not sure I could have stayed till the end if it hadn't have been sorted out. Fortunately, it was much more bearable in the second half, thank goodness!

Libby Gore was a brilliant Snow White and sang and looked beautiful. Keeley Fitzgerald played the comical, Trixie the Pixie with a very modern twist. I always love a 'Dame' in a panto and Steve Moorewood was fabulous, his pairing with Ryan Greaves as his son was hilarious. The one-liners were great and the 'Magazine' script had me in stitches.

The costumes, scenery and dancers from local dance school, Masquerade were professional and showed such talent.

The seven dwarfs were masked and their timing to the audio was impeccible, well done to the youngsters who played them.

The 12 days of Christmas is a favourite of mine and Luke's (my 8 year old), we always sing along and love all the cameraderie on stage. Lots of props were being thrown off and onto the stage and we the laughed from beginning till the end.

If you haven't booked to see a panto yet check out ticket prices http://www.antonbensonproductions.com/snow-white-2015.html

PETER PAN - REGENT THEATRE STOKE

I can't believe its that time of the year again.......oh no it isn't, oh yes it is!

One of my favourite parts of Christmas is my annual trip to the pantomime.

This years performance at The Regent Theatre, Stoke is Peter Pan, I was lucky enough to be there on opening night with two excitable 8 year olds, both with their glowing light sabres ready to join in the fun.

It's a special Anniversary performance for cheeky chappy, Jonathan Wilkes as it is his 10th year. He played Nanny McSmee and Mr Smee, and had us all shouting 'Ay Up Smee!' on his entrance. His love of Stoke is apparent and opened with a cleverly penned song 'All I care about is Stoke' including references to Oatcakes and his beloved Port Vale. There was a hilarious scene where Captain Hook (Christian Patterson) dressed up as Peter Pan and Wendy Darling, Patterson wrote the play and he and Johnny directed it, the comedy pairing was genius.

Peter Pan flying around the stage was magical and very seamless, played by Shannon Paul Lane he had us convinced in believing in Fairies which we were all chanting at the end. The rollerskating Tinkerbell was glittery and enchanting, a part of me feared for her every time she skated onto the stage. The dancing and singing was brought to us by a cast of young performers from Wilkes Academy, great to see local talent. The songs were modern and certainly had us dancing in our seats.

The costumes and scenery were colourful and bright and there was many an innuendo for the adults and jokes for the children too. 

There was the lack of an actual Panto Villain, my son generally enjoys the hissing and booing at the baddy but it was a fabulous family show, packed full of glittery entertainment. We gave it a definite thumbs up!

To book your tickets without delay go to http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/