Dick Whittington At Lighthouse, Poole Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Helen O

With Panto season in full swing, my family and I were overjoyed to take our seats this evening for Lighthouse, Poole’s festive offering of Dick Whittington and we were in for a treat and a half!

From our brilliant seats we soaked up every antic (while safely dodging the infamous water spray — if you know, you know!) all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the show…which we most certainly did (Oh, yes we did!)

Telling the time-honoured tale of young Dick Whittington, who heads to London in search of his fortune, after being told that the streets are paved with gold, we join Dick in his search for this gold, with his trusty cat Tommy, expert rat exterminator. He meets some extremely colourful characters – Dame Dolly Doughnuts, Alice and Alderman Fitzwarren.

Starring Lighthouse, Poole pantomime legend, Chris Jarvis (CBeebies), who also wrote and directed the show. Chris is absolutely dazzling as Dame Dolly Doughnuts. You can really tell how much he loves these pantomime performances, with witty ad libs and general merriment. It’s clear that a lot of work goes into making these performances shine and it’s well worth the effort.

What I love about the pantomime at Lighthouse, Poole is that it’s made in Poole, specifically for Lighthouse audiences. This was never more apparent, than when Dame Dolly played her ‘Dorset’ game, poetically listing almost 30 Dorset landmark names, which was hilariously brilliant and delighted the audience.

Pantomimes are such a perfect opportunity to introduce young audiences to their first taste of live theatre and the added extra of so much audience participation (which is positively encouraged from the outset), is such a treat for them. Shouting out and getting involved makes them feel part of the magic, which is lovely to watch.

For us, the standout performance, to rival Dame Dolly, was King Rat, played with devilish delight by the brilliant Sarah-Louise Young. The audience delighted in ‘Booing’ her, the moment she appeared on stage. What a perfect pantomime villain, with a phenomenal voice to match.

Although Tommy the Cat had few lines, Corben Heward-Mills captivated the audience with breathtaking acrobatics. His backflips and moon-walking across the stage filled the young audience with wonder– they were utterly spellbound by his agility.

As is tradition, there was a hilarious rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas with a London-theme, given Dick’s outing to London. Again, giving a perfect opportunity for audience participation, singing along and getting into the festive spirit.

Wonderfully choreographed by Daniel Donaldson Todd, the show gave the young ensemble cast from local dance school, Steppin’ Out, a brilliant platform to showcase their fantastic skills.

We loved it all, from the sets to the colourful costumes, to the music and also the cleverly reworded versions of our favourite hits, to help tell this story. There’s nothing else quite like it.

Dick Whittington runs at Lighthouse, Poole until Sunday 4th January 2026, with plenty of matinee and evening performances for this festive extravaganza, so loads of opportunities for this essential family fun, with a festive twist.

There’s also a performance to suit everyone including relaxed shows and also British Sign Language, to ensure everyone can enjoy the festive fun.

Running at around 2 hours and 15 minutes, with a 20 minute interval in the middle, it’s a fun-packed evening of good, wholesome, family entertainment, suitable for all ages.

Dick Whittington is kindly sponsored by National Express and Raymond James Poole. We absolutely loved how the National Express sponsorship was woven into tonight’s performance.

Ticket prices start from just £15, making this an accessible treat for many, especially at such an expensive time of year. With its vibrant energy and heart-warming atmosphere, it’s a show that deserves to be experienced by everyone – uplifting, affordable, and truly unmissable!

Rating: 5/5
RRP: Ticket price from: £15
Buy Tickets here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/dick-whittington/

Address: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG

Photo Credit: Lighthouse, Poole