Panto is an institution in both the U.K and Ireland. For many people, pantomime was their first introduction to the world of theatre, and for some people, it will be the only form of theatre they will go to for their entire lives.
I adore panto and try my hardest every year to make it to one, so I was only too delighted to be invited to a press night for the Portobello Panto 'Beauty And The Beast'!
As I walked in to the Portobello Town Hall, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I could sense the strength of the community at the venue, posters for local events hanging up in the foyer, cute little shops on either end selling ice cream and pringles, and the excited voices of the locals spotting their friend or neighbour coming through the door.
The venue itself is gorgeous: beautiful, rich red curtains adorn the stage, velvet seats in the balcony, and a stunning ceiling with chandeliers. You wouldn't believe that a few days earlier the space was used as the venue for a Christmas arts and crafts fair!
You would be amiss, though, to think that all of this would mean you were to experience a show that felt like a local amateur dramatics. Stagedoor Entertainment have provided a cast brimming with talent!
Erin Robertson was outstanding in her role of Will-o the Wisp, the perfect person to get the crowd warmed up for the high energy madness that is panto! We are quickly introduced to the baddie of the panto, Beira, played by the incredible Christine Mills, the audience, knowing their role, filled the theatre with boos. This role is not usually played by a standout singer, but Mills has a voice to bring the house down, and I found myself clapping hard whilst booing my heart out!
However, as fantastic as the performances were, there were some issues with the script. Not so much that I wouldn't recommend the show, but enough to knock it down a star in its rating. In particular, it struggled with ending a scene and moving onto the next one, most of the transitions feeling a little awkward. The main issue with the script, though, was that it felt like it skipped ahead. Characters would announce something that felt out of nowhere, like the Beast growling that Bella's father had been offered food and a place to stay when, in fact, he had literally just magically appeared in the castle through sprite magic and the first thing he did was pick a rose.
Panto is not the pinnacle of storytelling and script writing, but these are little things that could be tightened up, turning it from a really good show to an absolute showstopper!
The sets and costumes were wonderful and really captured the magic of panto. The set pieces opened and closed like a storybook, making it feel like a proper fairytale.
I can't end my review without tipping my hat to Ross Jamieson, who played Tattie Scone, the Dame's son. Jamieson had the absolute perfect mixture of silly panto clowning with the voice of a pop star! A delightful cheeky chappy who brought a smile to the audience the moment he set foot on stage!
Overall, I had a wonderful time. The show has a little bit for everyone, "6 7" jokes for the little ones, 'La Cauge Aux Folles' numbers for the grans, and a little Robbie Williams for the aging millennials such as myself. 😉
'Beauty And The Beast' runs at the Portobello Town Hall until December 28th, and like the opening song from the second act, I think you should 'let them entertain you'!
What's your favourite part of panto? If you haven't been to one before, are you intrigued to go?
Hoping you all have a wonderful holiday season and are ready to go full-force into a fantastic fringe 2026! 😁
Love,
Tony x