Jack and the Beanstalk The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto – City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Claire Giles
This is our third time attending the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto at the City Varieties, Leeds and it was amazing as always. The Rock ‘n’ Roll panto takes elements you would expect from a traditional panto and mixes it up with an amazing multi talented cast that are not only actors but also musicians who perform live on stage a soundtrack of rock and roll classics to put on a panto that has something for everyone.
Every year a classic tale is given the Rock ‘n’ Roll treatment and this year is Jack and the Beanstalk. Most people know the story and the basic storyline remains but with a love story, panto villain, panto dame and fairy godmother added in with hilarious results. Before the show even started the cast walked around the audience introducing themselves. Jack and Gill were telling everyone it was their wedding day and inviting everyone along.
The cast are incredible, seamlessly switching between singing, dancing, acting and playing instruments live on stage. They performed songs from the rock ‘n’ roll genre which were cleverly chosen to compliment the storyline and help tell the story. You honestly never know when they are going to break into song next. There is plenty of audience participation, in fact it is actively encouraged often leading to some hilarious impromptu adlibs from the cast. There’s still a lot of traditional panto elements such as booing the villain and the ‘oh no know he didn’t’ and ‘oh yes he did’.
Simon Nock as Dame Dolly stole the show and is honestly the best panto dame I have seen in any pantomime. His performance is witty, flirty, funny with plenty of innuendo and hilarious one liners. He honestly is the star of the rock ’n’ roll pantomime and why people return year after year. The dame’s costumes were so over the top I couldn’t wait to see what he changed into next. His hilarious performance of Lady Marmalade at the start of the second act was honestly my favourite part of the show,
My daughters loved Fairy Aubergine, yes aubergine as in the fruit and her magical leek wand! She popped up throughout the show to narrate the storyline and brought the original story and panto together with a little bit of her fairy magic and even performed a song or two along the way.
The pantos script is amazingly well written and the acting is over the top which totally fits the panto theme. Harry F Brown as Jack was totally believable as the dim witted yet lovable hero of the story and Lucy Ireland as Gill played the perfect heroine with a feisty edge.
City Varieties Music Hall is based in Leeds City Centre so is easy to get to by car or public transport. There is plenty of payable parking nearby. It is a beautifully restored 19th century music hall. It is smaller than more modern theatres, but this just adds to its charm. The seats were incredibly comfortable and there was plenty of legroom. It has accessible access by lift and wheelchair spaces.
There’s mayhem, madness and lots of fun for everyone, young or old, and I would recommend it for all. It can be loud , there are smoke effects, loud bangs and flashing lights and so may not be suitable for very young children.
My twin girls are 13 years old so I wasn’t sure if they would still enjoy the panto this year but they were engrossed from beginning to end. Giggling, clapping, toe tapping and singing along. They actually understood a lot of the gags and innuendo this year which actually added to the experience for them. Honestly I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, me or the kids. Watch out for those water pistols or you may get a drenching and make sure to stay to the very end for the balloons being passed around the audience and bubbles descending from above!!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £21.50 – £35
Jack and the Beanstalk The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds from Fri 29 November 2024 – Sun 12 January 2025, for more information or to book tickets visit www.leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the box office on 0113 243 0808
City Varieties Music Hall, Swan Street, Leeds. LS1 6LW