Panto weaves its traditional festive magic
Christmas isn't Christmas without a festive pantomime.
And Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal offers everything you would expect from the traditional family show.
Chris Harris's production is truly magical with spectacular sets and costumes which bring the fairy tale to life.
And complete with flying sequences and computer-generated animation this is certainly not to be missed this Christmas.
Liza Goddard and Hollyoaks and EastEnders actress Gemma Bissix provide the integral Good v Evil battle with the soap star generating boos from panto-goers.
Promising to play the most evil fairy that audiences have ever seen, Gemma, who won Villain of the Year at the 2007 British Soap Awards, certainly delivers.
The evening launches with a dramatic entrance from Liza Goddard as she flies on to the stage to introduce the spectacle.
And throughout the rest of the show many of the other characters take to the skies, with the most impressive being the Prince, played by Tim Bonser.
As he travels 100 years through time in order to kiss his princess Sleeping Beauty he takes flight and induces gasps from adults and children alike as he performs acrobatics in the air.
Projections also help to give the impression of time-travel as the inevitable happy ending draws close.
Meanwhile, pantomime dame and director Chris Harris and Billy Muddles, played by Jon Monie, provide the laughs with topical gags and comedic sequences.
For any panto, audience participation is a must and they provide everyone with more than their fair share.
The highlight here is an on stage sing-a-long session, where youngsters are hand-picked from the crowd to perform a nursery rhyme with the comedy double.
Song and dance routines throughout the show also provide humorous entertainment with The Monkees' I'm a Believer starting the night and a version of Take That's Rule the World, sung by the prince and Natalie Marie Dignam in her role as the princess, adding to the magic.
And finally it is impossible to credit the success of the show without mentioning the children from the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance, who were the real stars.
Dressed in a variety of costumes and dancing alongside the lead characters, the little ones were extremely professional throughout.
Once again the pantomime was directed and written by panto dame extraordinaire Chris Harris, who stars as Nurse Nelly.
And it is his first-ever production of Sleeping Beauty, which makes the polished and enchanting show all the more impressive.
For pantomime tickets call 01225 448844.
WIN TICKETS
This week The Guide has teamed up with the Theatre Royal Bath to offer readers the chance to win one family ticket (for two adults and two children or one adult and three children) to watch Sleeping Beauty on Friday, January 8 at 7pm.
All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is answer the following question, put your answers on a postcard, together with your name, address and daytime telephone number and send it to Theatre Royal Panto Competition, The Guide, The Bath Chronicle, Westpoint, James Street West, Bath BA1 2DA. The first correct answer out of the hat first thing on January 2 will get the tickets. The question is: what action awakes Sleeping Beauty?
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