Aladdin

Though the Empire is once again threatened by closure, Susie McKenna’s production team blows away the dark clouds with their latest pantomime, a vibrant multicultural Aladdin.

The classic tale gets an Eastern twist as the action shifts to the Peking suburb of Ha-Ka-Ney, home to the brave Aladdin and friends. Cue two genies, incompetent coppers, African queens and a whole load of wittily reworked chart hits.

Lotte Collett’s design is a revelation from first to last; the dazzling sets make utmost use of the grand old stage and are humorous down to the smallest details.

Every panto’s tightrope walk (between simplicity for the kids on one side and subtle adult humour the other) is easily traversed, most of the ‘adult’ nature coming from Clive Rowe’s superb Widow Twanky. Rowe’s vast charisma dominates every scene, as he totters around in marvellous, multi-layered outfits.

His tendency to ad-lib and a running flirtation with certain audience members adds a welcome edge of unpredictability. When he belts out ‘A Change Is Gonna Come‘ in the first act, you’d better believe it.

Bookings and more information here.