Woking has gone all out spectacle this Christmas with its production of Sleeping Beauty with all the glitz and glamour you expect from this venue. Alan McHugh’s script has broken away from the traditional Pantomime formula and has dispensed with the Dame.

The curtains open with panto legend Christopher Biggins, sequin-clad and perched high on a silver moon with the Ensemble belting out Spirt in the Sky below.  He’s playing The Spirit of Dreams; narrator and storyteller. It is on this floating moon that he remains for most of the show with one exception (more of which later).

The story begins on Aurora’s (Rhaine Drummond) 18th birthday. She has been cursed by Carabosse to die on her 18th birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. Only a kiss from her own true love will wake her (cue Prince William of Westfield, Will Richardson).

Aurora’s proud parents are here too; a bumbling King Kenneth (James Paterson) and Queen Constance (Brenda Longman); who have done their best to keep their daughter safe. If they can only get Princess Aurora to the age of 18 when she’ll
become the Queen of the Kingdom.

Richard Cadell is Muddles, the Royal magician, and after a grand entrance on a Harley Davidson, he keeps up a good pace with witty one-liners and ad-libbing. His magic tricks are truly impressive and include a chainsaw escape and the three-buckets routine. Without a Dame, the show has a closer resemblance to a variety show but it provides a perfect opportunity for Cadell’s combination of adult comic and children’s entertainer.

Faye Tozer of Steps is Carabosse, glamorous and evil but likeable. It’s a Tragedy (I know – sorry) we must wait until the second half for her to sing. She joins in the fun with a witty, adult lip sync routine with Cadell before joining him, Prince William and King Kenneth in a slapstick ‘If I were not upon the stage’. Prince William’s chef ‘flipping’ pancakes was particularly risqué.  Biggins attempts to join in many times as if missing his cues, each time with a complete costume change.

Sooty, Sweep and Sue play a starring role with the Camper Van and what’s not to love about Sweep’s rendition of Nessun Dorma.

This show is a visual delight, and the costumes are fabulous and extravagant. The special effects by Twins FX are truly spectacular with a brilliant helicopter flying out over the stalls and a giant animatronic smoke-breathing dragon appearing over the footlights.

Huge fun, great sets, costumes, fabulous music, and tried and tested panto routines make for a great night out.

New Victoria Theatre Woking
Performances 6th December 2024 – 5th January 2025.

Five Stars.

Photo credit Ian Olsson

Reviewer Nina Gardner.

For more information and tickets see the link below
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/sleepingbeauty

Cast

Spirit of Dreams Christopher Biggins
Carabosse the Sorceress Faye Tozer
Muddles The Royal Magician Richard Cadell & Sooty
Prince William of Westfield Will Richardson
Princess Aurora Rhaine Drummond
Queen Constance Benda Longman
King Kenneth James Paterson

Ensemble

Cameron Boulter
Eleanor Bye
Andrea Hajiyianni
Taya Latter
Ethan Mattews
Ella Meakin
Kingston Taylor

Creative Team

Alan McHugh Writer
Aaron Renfree Choreographer
Alex Marshall Lighting Designer
The Twins FX Special Effects
Mike Coltman Speciality Costume Design
Richard Marshall Sound Designer.