Sleeping Beauty at the King’s Theatre Glasgow Review

Reviewed by Emily Crombie

Panto humour was in full swing at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow last night on the opening night of their 2017 pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

This year’s panto was directed by Nick Winston and produced by Michael Harrison for Qdos Entertainment.

Set in the fictional yet rather familiar location of Glasweedgia, the well-known story of Sleeping Beauty is played out panto style against a back drop of colour with a gag a minute (or more). It is a show full of all the humour we expect at this time of year!

The star of the show was most certainly Elaine C Smith as the fairy godmother Bella Houston, one of the very many Glasgow related jokes and her performance as Adele steals the show.

Her loving but slightly simple son Muddles was played by Johnny Mac, who’s comic timing was very funny as were his facial expressions!

Juliet Cadzow, who will be recognised by the younger members of the audience as Edie McCredie from Balamory, moves to the other end of the spectrum in the role of the wicked fairy, Carabosse. Her sidekick, Slimeball, played by Paul-James Corrigan of River City fame, changes for the better to save the day.

The costumes were fabulously over the top as only panto can get away with! There seemed no expense spared with flying cars and pyrotechnics. It is a high-octane performance verging on style over substance at times.

We were glad to be sitting further back in the stalls when the camera came out for a little audience participation, playing back to a screen on stage… beware if you are in the front few rows!!

The panto ticks all the boxes and ends with the prerequisite sing-along!

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £12 to £46.50 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Sleeping Beauty is at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow from 2 December 2017 to 7 January 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/kings or call the box office on 0844 871 7648.

King’s Theatre, 297 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JN | 0844 871 7648