Sleeping Beauty at the Southport Theatre Review
Sleeping Beauty
Southport Theatre
12 December 2014 to 3 January 2015
Reviewed by Sue Trish
Having found a nearby car park space relatively easily we made our way to the Southport Theatre which was just around the corner. Having never been inside this venue before I was really pleased with what we seen when we walked through the doors. Decorated beautifully for the festive season, my little girl squealed with excitement as she ran towards the wonderful Christmas displays. Christmas isn’t really Christmas until the panto season begins.
We didn’t have to wait very long for our tickets – staff seemed to be very efficient and they were really friendly. The theatre foyer itself was what I had imagined and more when it comes to a traditional auditorium.
We went downstairs and had a look round before we went to one of the refreshment kiosks. The place was well signposted and all the staff were delightful!!
Refreshments were more than reasonably priced too. My daughter chose a goody bag for £10 which consisted of a large tub of sweets, a tub of popcorn, a drink and a fluffy light up wand – more than value for money I’d say!!
We were quickly and efficiently shown to our seats and given that this large theatre was packed out, people were seated quickly and without a fuss and the show started on time.
Opening with a Sleeping Beauty backdrop the good fairy Azuriel, played by Hannah Farquharson, introduced the show. I thought the story was told really well and my 5 year old was following most of it without any problems. The brilliant cast had no problem with audience participation and the whole show was filled with everything you would expect from a panto! Excited children and adults alike joined in with the singing and clapping and we were even thrown a few “Oh no you didn’t” lines and given the traditionally funny job of shouting “he’s behind you”.
The atmosphere throughout the show was fantastic, one parent was asked on stage to be Nurse Nora’s patient, leaving us laughing and chanting his medicine song! This lucky dad also got to share in the panto favourite – foam pie in the face scene! Leaving the children screaming for more!
For me Nurse Nora, Wicked Fairy Carabosse and Josh the Jester all stole the show. My little girl loved Josh instantly and was absolutely delighted to be asked up on stage with Josh and Nora to sing the wedding cake song –an absolute dream come true for her! Fans of traditional pantomime will find plenty that’s familiar here, including some clichéd jokes and some slap stick comedy, but that’s all part of the fun!
The back drop scenery and stage props were superbly done given the relatively small space on stage and the costumes were fantastic! All the cast, including the little fairies, danced and sang brilliantly! Any little glitches were handled perfectly, even incorporating them into the scene for comedy value. The massive dragon slayed by the brave Prince Valiant was excellent and the music and lighting were perfectly pitched throughout the show.
Imagine theatre have done a wonderful job of recreating a beautiful fairy tale. My only negative point would be casting a female as the role of the Prince. Whilst played brilliantly by Laura Robson, in her Imagine Theatre debut as Prince Valiant, I overheard a few other audience members saying that it was a little odd. But then I suppose it is a panto after all!!
I would highly recommend!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £11.40 to £27.90 (plus £4 transaction fee).
Sleeping Beauty is at the Southport Theatre until 3 January 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 3021.
Southport Theatre, The Promenade, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0DZ | 0844 871 3021
