Dick Whittingham The Rock ’N’ Roll Panto At City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Review

Reviewed by Claire Giles

This is my second year attending The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto and honestly after enjoying it so much last year I couldn’t wait to go again. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto has been a yearly tradition at City Varieties Music Hall since it was first introduced in 2011 and Dick Whittingham is the latest story to be given the Rock ‘n’ Roll treatment.

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 comfy and there was plenty of legroom. It has accessible access by lift and wheelchair spaces.

Dick Whittingham is a story known by most since childhood and though the basic elements of the story remain it is changed to fit in with the panto and rock ‘n’ roll element. The story revolves around Dick Whittingham and his cat Tabby who have travelled from Leeds to London looking for fame and fortune. There he meets Alderman Fitzwarren and his posh daughter Alice. After meeting it is love at first sight for Alice and Dick. Unfortunately the powerful King Rat wants Alice for himself and partners up with the loveable but dim Billy Bungalow who is also in love with Alice to frame Dick for stealing Alderman Fitzwarren’s gold. Forcing Dick to leave and hoping to win Alice for himself.

The most amazing thing about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is that the actors don’t just act they also sing and play the instruments live on stage. Throughout the whole panto the cast rotated between acting, singing and playing. They performed live songs from rock ‘n’ roll genre and chart toppers that fitted in cleverly with the storyline. The songs covered many eras so there was something for everyone young or old. They had the crowd foot tapping, clapping and singing along throughout the whole panto. Everyone was on their feet dancing along for the final number. The cast were all amazing singers but Claire Keenan as Alice’s performance of Holding out for a Hero and Ben Stratton as King Rat’s performance of Dead Ringer for Love were simply outstanding.

Last year the most outstanding performance and true star of the show was Simon Nock as the Panto Dame. Over the years with three kids, I have seen many pantos and panto dames and Simon Nock is honestly the best I have ever seen. When he appeared on stage again this year as the Panto Dame Sarah the Cook my kids’ faces honestly lit up. They had obviously remembered her from last year so obviously had made quite the impression. Simon as Sarah the Cook was sarcastic, witty, teasing, naughty (very, very naughty) and delivered some brilliant adult humour and innuendos. She had the kids and adults in the audience laughing out loud though often for very different reasons. She brought real fun and laughter to the show and even adlibs off the script at moments much to the amusement of the audience and cast alike. Sarah the Cook took a particular interest in a front row audience member who inadvertently became part of the show and the butt of many of her jokes to everyone’s amusement. Sarah the Cook’s outfits were very large, colourful and over the top as you would expect from a panto dame. I was intrigued to see what she would come out in next.

Though Alice and Dick were the main characters and were amazing in their roles my favourites were Daniel Miles as dim but loveable Billy Bungalow (described as not having a lot going on upstairs lol) who as the underdog with his one sided love for Alice you couldn’t help but like no matter what he did. He had delivered some great lines, had a fabulous singing voice and his dancing was amazing. I also loved Ben Stratton as King Rat, the villain of the story. I know you shouldn’t really love the villain, but his performance was brilliant, and he lit up the stage with his singing, dancing and performance as a smelly, sleazy, baddy rat.

My kids loved the ninja cat Tabby. Her fight scenes with King Rat were great. She commanded a lot of stage attention for someone who didn’t actually speak just meowed.

Though the story is modernised there is a lot of traditional panto in the performance that my kids loved. Everytime Sarah the Cook appears the kids have to shout Hello Sarah. There were a lot of ‘oh no he didn’t’ and ‘oh no he did’ moments as you expect in a panto. The audience participation with the cast really brings the show alive especially for kids though I thoroughly got involved in ‘booing’ everytime King Rat appeared much to the amusement and embarrassment of my kids. Everytime the rat puppets appeared on stage the kids had to shout out ‘rat attack’ so that the cast could try and splat them with a giant mallet. It was like a giant game of whack a mole. But in true panto style every time the cast looked for the rats they disappeared to simply reappear once the cast’s back was turned.

After attending last year, we were aware that part of the show involves the cast running around the audience with water guns shooting the audience. After getting wet last year luckily, we were in the circle above the stage this year safe from the water but enjoyed watching other audience members get shot at with water below. Bubbles also came down from the upper balcony to descend upon the audience.

The Panto was a non stop, all singing, all dancing musical extravaganza. Smoke effects, flashing lights and a giant confetti cannon all added to the performance. The cast are truly a multi talented bunch of performers. My girls were engrossed from beginning to end, laughing, singing and shouting out loud. Though I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, me or the kids. The show is suitable for all. Families, couples, groups. There were a lot of adults in the audience who come every year. I already can’t wait to see what next year’s rock ‘n’ roll panto will bring.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £14 – £30
Dick Whittingham The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds from 2nd December 2022 to 8th January 2023
For more information or to book tickets visit www.leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the box office on 0113 2430808

City Varieties Music Hall, Swan Street, Leeds, LS1 6LW