Every now and again a Pantomime begins and you just know you are in for a fantastic show. Aladdin at The Anvil in Basingstoke is one of those.

From the moment Lotte Bennett in the role of the Spirit of the Ring began to sing the opening number it was enchanting and the magic began.

The storyline of Aladdin remains in place where he goes from Rags to Riches and back to Rags through finding the magic Lamp.

Aladdin (Kian Zomorodian) and Princess Jasmine (Natasha Cayabyab) matched each other vocally and looked like a very good match on stage. Bringing out the best in each other’s performance.

Oh course no Pantomime would be complete with our gorgeous Dame Widow Twankey (Nic Gibney) and Christopher Pizzey in the role of Wishee Washee. These two actors have worked together before and have fantastic comedy timing and a fantastic rapport on stage. Especially during the “messy” scene which had the audience in hysterics.

Abanazar played by James Mackenzie had the audience “booing” and “jeering” and he loved every minute of it. Actively encouraging the auditorium to get louder. A solid and engaging Pantomime “baddie” in a stunning costume to match his evilness.

This production of Aladdin has one of the best costume designs I have personally seen this Pantomime season. From the pastel ensemble dancers to Wishee Washee’s patchwork outfit to the stunning range of Dame costumes worn by Widow Twankey Costume Designer Elizabeth Dennis and the creative team have created a lasting Pantomime memory for me and hopefully many of the audience members who see it this season.

Everything about this production is perfectly timed from the humour which is pitched on different levels for all the family, to the choreography by Sarah Day and the strong performances all round by all the cast, not a step out of place.

If you want a really good Pantomime that really is a truly seasonal family show then I would strongly recommend this year’s production at The Anvil.

For more information about Aladdin and future productions at The Anvil in Basingstoke please use the link below.

Five Stars.

https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/