REVIEW: Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Newcastle at Tyne Theatre

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Which Newcastle panto is the Geordiest of them all?

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Until Sunday 31^st December 2017

It was delightful to hear Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House, in its 150^th year, filled with the screaming voices of the younger members of the audience getting excited about the action on stage. This is the one “big” panto in Newcastle that attracts the young families. The leader of the gang, Charlie Richmond, has everyone on board as the show delights and entertains for over 2 ½ hours. There is still a North East feel to the cast in a show that feels like it has had some passion and money thrown at it. No longer the poor relation, the Tyne panto has regained its sparkle and pride.

The pre-show message about mobile phones comes from the large mirror on the wall. ITV Tyne Tees’ Rachel Sweeney is the Magic Mirror who talks in rhyme. Phones off, it was time for the panto to begin.

The show opens with Charlie Richmond, as Muddles, and his friend Snow White dancing and singing along to Footloose. The immediate impression from the set and costumes that the dancers wear is that the scope of the production has improved since last year’s show. A new production team has come in and it shows. Newcastle actress Robyn McEnaney has swapped her role as a Disney princess at Paris Disneyland for Snow White. She comes across as charming which is essential if the kids are going to react in the later scenes. She also has a decent singing voice which is comparable with the other 2 established singers that feature in the cast.

After the good people, along come the baddies for the kids to boo at. Gateshead born Michelle Heaton, famous for singing with Liberty X, is the Wicked Queen who wants to be the fairest in the land. Lewis Denny is back at the Tyne as Herman the Henchman, carrying out the Queen’s orders. Perhaps these two are simply not evil enough as they plot to stop the chances of Snow White getting married to the Prince? But there again they are not scary enough to frighten the little kids in the audience either.  Michelle can sing and she had a couple of opportunities to show off her skills with Venus and I Put A Spell On You.

  

Every panto needs a dame and Snow White has Hartlepool comedian Danny Posthill who enjoys doing impressions. He found fame in the final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. Dame Dotty’s outfits were flamboyant and the jokes kept flying. This isn’t the final of a tv talent show and slowing down the delivery al little may help improve the impact of each impression. First night nerves may have kicked in a little and I’m sure audiences will be laughing throughout the run at the Jonny Vegas and Big Brother impressions.

The show follows the traditional tale. Snow White is turning 18 and the arrival of the Prince causes her evil step mother to try to get rid of her biggest rival. Prince Collabro is performed by Carlisle’s Matt Pagan from Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro.  A lad with a decent set of pipes – he got his moment in the spotlight during the second act with the power ballad This Is The Moment.

Talking of music, this year’s show features a live band under MD Ben Wiles. When a number of shows are relying on pre-recorded music and sound effects, it is great to see live musicians adding to the soundscape.

Choreographer Kerry Blaskett has worked with the four professional dancers and 5 teams of young dancers. Everyone looked like they wanted to be there and clearly a lot of rehearsal has gone in to refining the routines.  That might sound like an odd statement to make but this is Christmas show number 8 for the North East Theatre Guide and we have seen shows in which you have wondered why some of the dancers signed up for the show! The Tyne group of dancers worked hard and were clearly enjoying the experience.

Finally, we have the 7 dwarfs. Some shows use children, some use huge masks like the Metrognomes. We are pleased to say the Tyne show hasn’t taken any of those shortcuts. Laura Whitfield-Phillips, as Prof, leads a cast of seven diamond miners who literally whistle while they work. There were sounds of delight from the younger members of the audience as they marched down the stalls on their way to their first scene.

It was first night and the show went pretty smoothly. The beauty of panto is that when a wig flies off it can add to the humour of the scene rather than being an issue.

Though it misses a messy scene, all of the other elements of an elegant pantomime are present. Jokes, songs, local references, nice costumes and sets. Central to the show’s success is the very likeable and personable Charlie Richmond – a chap we have referred to as ‘the funny one in last year’s Tyne panto’. Never nasty, he is good with the kids in the audience and he has come of age in the North East panto circuit.

Snow White is a great way for the Tyne Theatre & Opera House to complete the venue’s 150^th year. It is a comedy that looked good and had plenty of entertainment for the younger members of the audience.

Review by Stephen Oliver

Tickets:

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs runs from Friday 8^th to Sunday 31^st December.
Tickets are available now from our affiliate Eventim UK - Tickets LINK

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days.

Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)

Tickets are priced £14 - £22, Groups 10+ get 1 free (except Christmas Eve). Boxes £132, Youth & School group offers available. Family ticket £79 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children, stalls & grand circle only, not available Christmas Eve) (Plus booking fees when booking online or over the phone

Group booking hotline (for groups of 10+ - 0191 264 9447) 

Coming in 2018…

Easter Panto - Beauty & The Beast, starring Bobby Davro & Dani Harmer, at Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House – Saturday 31/3/18 – Sunday 1/4/18 – Tickets are already on sale from our affiliate Eventim UK Tickets: LINK: http://bit.ly/2AoC6sZ or from the Tyne Theatre box office.

Tickets are priced £20 adults, £18 concessions, £69 family (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult 3 children) Group 10+ £1 off regular prices, Group 20+ £2 off regular prices (Plus booking fees when booking online or over the phone) 

In a small French village, the beautiful and intelligent Belle ignores her suitor, the vain and boorish Gaston, as she cares for her father, eccentric inventor Maurice.

On his way to the fair, Maurice stumbles upon a foreboding castle in the woods, and is thrown into a dungeon by the castle’s occupant: a huge savage beast. Belle comes to rescue her ailing father, and offers to take his place as the Beast’s prisoner. Belle discovers that the castle’s house staff have been transformed into ...Read moreobjects by the same magic spell that made their master a beast. In order to break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and be loved in return.

As she remains in the castle, Belle and Beast find their apprehension replaced by affection; but Belle misses her father, and the Beast reluctantly allows her to leave.

Gaston, incensed at Belle’s affection for the Beast, leads a mob of townspeople to storm the castle. Belle rushes back in time to confess her love for the Beast, and the spell is broken.

The beast returns to his former self, a handsome young prince and he and Belle marry and live happily ever after.

Next year’s winter pantomime at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House is Cinderella, starring Charlie Richmond as Buttons, which runs from Friday 7/12/18 – Sunday 30/12/18. Tickets are already available from our affiliate Eventim UK - LINK: http://bit.ly/2BPHTUR or from the Tyne Theatre box office.

Ticket prices:

Stalls & Grand Circle: Adults £22, Concessions (under 16s and over 60s) £20

Upper Circle: Adults £16, Concessions £14

Family ticket: £79 (stalls & grand circle only, not available Christmas Eve. A family ticket is for 2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children.)

Boxes: £132

Schools: £10 (buy 10 get 2 free)

Youth Groups: £12 (buy 10 get 1 free, except on Christmas Eve)

Groups 10+ buy 10 get 1 free

Early Bird Discount – Ticket prices frozen until end of March 2018!