Dick Whittington At St.Helens Theatre Royal Review

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

Reviewed by Rebecca Banasko

If you want to start your Christmas celebrations with a bang then St. Helens Theatre Royal is a great place to start. The Amazing Adventure of Dick Whittington and his Magical Cat is the panto of the season! Be prepared for belly laughs, glitter, glamour and maybe a cameo from one Oasis Front man. This panto has everything including a rock solid cast that bring all the fun and action to delight and entertain the whole family. My 4 year old nephew and 10 year old daughter were laughing and booing all the way through along with the adults who haven’t been forgotten; there is something for everyone.

The story follows Dick (played by Emmerdale’s Matthew Wolfenden) who has left Yorkshire to seek his fortune in London. Where he meets is loyal cat Tommi, played by the brilliant Jenna Sian O’Hara, who has the feline characteristics down to a t! He gets a job working in the Penny Pincher shop for the colourful Felicity Fitzwarren (played by Richard Aucott) and her daughter Alice (played by Chantelle Morgan) who he quickly falls for. Adventures pursue and never without the hilarious Idle Jack (played by the ever-popular Lewis Devine) as King Rat (played by the talented Tim Lucas) does everything in his power to foil Dicks attempts to succeed. Throughout, the mesmerising Fairy Bow Bells (played by Rachael Wood) uses her magic to help the motley crew along in their endeavours.

The show kept everyone’s attention throughout, with current and relevant references that speak to people of all ages in the audience. And if that wasn’t enough, you can look forward to donning some 3D glasses to see underwater fishes and creatures come to life literally before your eyes. The chemistry between cast members was just as much fun to watch as the story, the whole thing felt effortless however it was evident the quality of the production and set. The range of music and the wonderful dancers who brought it all to life were the cherry on top!

King Rat was a particular highlight, this baddie stirred up the audience, making us hiss and boo and bringing an element of cheekiness that got everyone interacting with him. The make-up and costumes were fantastic. I really loved the costumes for the Rat and the Cat! Look out for a mesmerising hoop routine performed by the Tommi the cat.

St Helens is family friendly venue who give the warmest welcome to all visitors. It is easy to get into the town centre with close access to public transport and parking within a 5 minute walk. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com/show/873669110/ prices are £26 each which is the current climate is a great price for such quality live entertainment and the all round experience that you get.

I give this panto 5/5 stars for the jam-packed, brilliantly funny and wholesome family experience.

St. Helens Theatre never fail to disappoint and Dick Whittington is not to be missed this festive season. The show runs until 11th January 2026 so there is plenty of time to book your tickets, get the kids out of the house and have some screen-free old-fashioned fun with a modern twist in a fabulous venue!

Rating: 5/5