@Richard Jarmy
It’s PANTO TIME! And, who doesn’t love a pantomime? Well, me…or so I thought!
I hadn’t seen a pantomime for possibly 20 years before I was invited to go and see Aladdin at Norwich Theatre Royal back in 2018. I had mixed feelings back then, but that panto converted me with the perfect amount of ‘cheese’, booing, bad jokes, good jokes, audience participation, singing, dancing and general pantomime frolic.
So this year I had no such worries! The performance is Dick Whittington and his Cat and it was the first time I got to take my eldest Mini Mumbler along as I knew she would be able to cope with the late night now she’s a bit older (7). I also knew she’d be in her element as she loves nothing more than a bit of drama with a dance and a singsong! It’s safe to say, she was enthralled.
@AJ Feather
Our favourite of the show was Dengineers presenter and YouTube sensation Joe Tracini, who plays Tommy the cat (his little ukulele number about missing his mum brought a tear to my eye, be warned!), but you might also recognise Graham Cole from The Bill (I don’t mean to brag, but I saw him in the Sprowston Tesco a few months ago), TV & Soap Star Siân Reeves and CBeebies TV Presenter Gyasi Sheppy Gauntlett. Not only this, a Norwich Theatre Royal fave, Richard Gauntlett, plays Sarah the pantomime dame and it is his 21st Norwich panto, no less!
@Richard Jarmy
The sets and costumes are fantastic and the songs are guaranteed to have you clapping along in no time. There should also be a special mention for the scene where Sarah (Richard Gauntlett) and Jack (Joe Pollard) attempt to have dinner on a ship in stormy seas – the look on my eldest’s face told me she could not believe that they were doing this on a stage.
Whilst this panto didn’t have the usual wow factor for me (whether this is due to Covid factors, I’m not sure), it still has something for everyone and seeing my eldest laughing, clapping, joining in and having a fantastic time was absolutely the best bit. She didn’t stop bouncing from the time we got to the theatre, to the time we got home – she was so excited and declared it the best thing she’s ever seen!
So, there you are, a review straight from the mouth of a 7-year-old.
@Richard Jarmy
Recommended Age
I posted on Mumbler Instagram stories whilst we were at the show and I got a lot of messages asking what the youngest age is that I think the panto is suitable for. The show started at 7pm and was finished around 9.30pm, so quite a late show if you’re thinking of taking little ones. There’s always the matinee performances, but you know your Mini Mumblers best and whether they might be able to sit through something this long. I don’t think my nearly 5-year-old is quite ready for the big panto yet, maybe next year!
Dick Whittington and his Cat is on at Norwich Theatre Royal from now until January the 9th 2022. You can book tickets at the box office online or by calling 01603 630000.
