Sleeping Beauty At Nottingham Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Lindsay Burton
It is that time of year again—panto season! Oh no it’s not! Oh yes, it is! Sleeping Beauty has arrived at Nottingham Playhouse, and this year’s production is bigger, brighter, and more colourful than ever.
Join the delightful Nanny Nelly (John Elkington), Teddy the Bear (Danny Hendrix), and Fairy Lights (Charis Alexandra) as they embark on a daring quest to rescue Princess Rosie (Yasmin King). With support from the valiant Prince (Seb Harwood), they must work together to outwit and overcome the villainous Maleficent (Lara Sas), ensuring the day is saved. Angered by her exclusion from the Princess’s birthday celebration, the malevolent Maleficent casts a curse upon her. When the Princess pricks her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel, she—and the entire kingdom—falls into a profound slumber. During their sleep, a dense, tangled forest grows around the castle, sealing it off from the world. Only true love has the power to break the spell. Enter the Prince, who battles through the thorn-filled forest and joins forces with the Princess to ultimately defeat the wicked Maleficent.
Thoroughly enjoyed the songs used in this year’s production. As part of panto tradition, the musical numbers feature lyrics and songs drawn from current popular hits, encouraging the audience to join in with many of the performances. Audience participation was as usual, superb; everyone joined in when asked to do so – it was a jovial evening enjoyed by every member of the audience and the cast on stage.
As always, the presence of children on stage brings an extra touch of Christmas magic, and last night’s young chorus was outstanding. Team Dean, we thoroughly enjoyed everything you brought to the performance.
The creative and production teams delivered exceptional work, transforming the stage and cast into a vibrant and engaging production. Their set design is sure to spark the Christmas spirit in even the least festive among us.
A special shout-out to costume designers Jo Birkett, James Goss, Annalise Walker, Jude Ward, and Kat Winter—pantomime costumes are known for their boldness and colour, and this year’s designs certainly lived up to that reputation. They paired beautifully with the imaginative set design created by Izzy Lister, Lisa Pickford, Sarah Richard, Fran Russell, and Celeste Townsend.
Fantastic performance by the band – a talented group of musicians who very much brought the panto to life with their skill and talent.
If you and your family are planning to attend a pantomime this year, do not miss this production. Fun for the whole family, this panto delivers humour for everyone—wholesome fun for younger audiences and subtle adult jokes that parents will appreciate. This production adds all the glitz and glam and Christmas spirit to kick start your Christmas celebration this year.
With tickets starting at £17.50, this show is now on at the Nottingham Playhouse and will be running until the 17th of January 2026. Tickets can be purchased from here https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/sleeping-beauty-2
My family and I score this production as 5/5 and would encourage one and all to make their way to Nottingham – do not miss this show.
Rating: 5/5