Panto has always been a highlight of Christmas for the family. One would think that coming year after year we would get bored of the same routine, but each year at De Montfort Hall is more exciting. This year was certainly no exception. Dick Whittington really does impress with the grandeur of the stage, the special effects, outrageous costumes, slapstick jokes and the whole atmosphere.
What a great cast. Richie Anderson excelled in his panto debut, strutting about on the stage like he owned it. Pop princess Suzanne Shaw, who was a delight and looked stunning in her costume. CBeebies star Rebecca Keatley (whom my daughters, now 14 years old, used to watch daily on Let’s Play) and of course the West End star, Djalenga Scott, who played a cracking part as the Queen rat, turning De Montfort Hall into a West End musical stage. Comedian, Jarred Christmas, is back again this year and, as always, was on point with his wit and humour throughout the performance.
We can’t forget the Dame – Sarah the Cook, brought to life by Jack Ballard. In fact, we still can’t believe how quickly she got changed in and out of the those amazing costumes. And a special mention has to go to Jack “Hobbit” Hobbs, who brought incredible beatboxing flair to the role of Boots.
The costumes and choreography also really added to the magic of this show, and it was a wonderful experience to be able to step onto the stage and see the set close-up after the performance. Seeing the grandeur of what we saw from the other side was very special.
All in all, Dick Whittington is a real festive treat. Jokes for all ages make this an ideal family outing and whilst we always enjoy the De Montfort Hall panto, this might be the best one yet.
See you again next year, De Montfort Hall.
Dick Whittington runs at De Montfort Hall until 3 January. Tickets are available on the De Montfort Hall website.
Review by Rupal Jansari
