Robin Hood – Milton Keynes Theatre

You simply can’t have Christmas time without panto! Us Brits do love the panto and the sillier the better. But we also love a good show with fantastic costumes, acting, music and dancing. Qdos Entertainment’s Robin Hood ticked all the boxes and more: A well-known Bafta-winning TV star? Check. Leads and an ensemble of comedy, TV and voice-over actors? Check. A seasoned West End star? Check. A mighty magician? Check. A group of international comedy acrobats known as The Acromaniacs? Check! A team of young talented dancers from Dancebox Studios? Check!

We all know the story of Robin Hood, with his team of merry men, robbing from the rich to give to the poor, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham getting in their way and of course the lovely Maid Marion whom Robin is keen to woo. Throw in some clowning around, impressive magic tricks, a spirit of Sherwood, a rather scary 3D trip through the haunted forest, crazy acrobatics, dazzling costumes and stage sets then you’ve got yourself a winning pantomime.

The show is fantastic fun for all the family with endless cheers, boos and screams from the children in the audience and plenty of cheeky laughs from the adults as the grown-up jokes and innuendos were well placed and consistent throughout the show. Of course, you must expect plenty of news, politics and current affairs creeping their way into the show too so prepare for insults, poking fun and outrageous laughter – we love it! Music and songs included some from The Greatest Showman and the classic annual Milton Keynes Panto rendition of Twelve Days of Christmas – watch out for those five toilet rolls kids!!

Starring cheeky and charismatic Shane Ritchie as Robin Hood, Peter Piper as Friar Tuck, Gina Murray as the Spirit of Sherwood, Pete Gallagher as the charming and dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, Jamie Kenna as Little John, Phil Hitchcock as Merlin the Magician and the almighty comedy jumping Acromaniacs as the Merry Men.

For tickets, head to www.atgtickets.com, the panto is running until 13^th January. Be quick, performances are selling out fast!

Cinderella Panto at MK Theatre

A fantastic show again this year from the mother of all Pantomimes, Cinderella. Starring the fantastic Gok Wan and Brian Conley as The Fairy Gok Mother and Buttons. A perfect pairing for the stage as they bounced off one another effortlessly and had the audience in stitches! I was a little worried for the gent sat behind us, thought he might have an accident!

In typical panto style, they picked on the audience - a huge well done to Nikki of Olney – if you see this, we were cheering for you! I couldn’t think of anything worse than being pulled up on stage in front of hundreds of people…you were great :D (note: shy people, don’t sit too close to the front!)

Multi-coloured, sparkling, glitz and glam stage set with the usual wow factors – fireworks, flying coach, magic, show ponies, OTT costumes, rude jokes – you name it, they had it.

A big shout out the full cast and creatives for putting on such a wonderfully magic Christmas show that kids and big kids alike adored. Thank you to the MK Theatre Orchestra for playing excellent music and we had a few sing-a-longs. The ugly sisters were wicked, very funny and their costumes as always were outrageous.

Head over to MK Theatre to catch this year’s pantomime in all its glory – running until Sunday 14^th January 2018.

REVIEW: Dick Whittington at MK Theatre

Dick Whittington at Milton Keynes Theatre

13th December 2016

 

A truly mad old English tradition – the Pantomime!  A noun described in the Oxford Dictionary as ‘An absurdly exaggerated piece of behaviour’, well that’s exactly what you can expect from this year’s panto at Milton Keynes theatre and it was fabulous.

From dazzling costumes to vibrant stage sets that changed from scene to scene, audience participation to topical jokes, it was great fun all round.

This year we saw Stacey Solomon as Fairy Bowbells and Samantha Womack as Queen Rat, good versus evil to keep the audience in peril with a sprinkling of hope for dear Dick and his friends. Kev Orkian starred as Idle Jack, a narrator, entertainer, joker, story-teller, funny-man – he did great at involving us all in the show. Kevin Brewis, Chris Jenkins, Hannah Ponting, Marc Pickering, Shane Knight and Sophie Hart completed the ensemble and we could see and feel how much fun they were having playing their parts – which made it all the more enjoyable to watch.

Although everybody’s performance was flawless, right down to Tommy the cat and the swarms of rats, my absolute favourite character of them all was Sarah The Cook. Played by Kevin Brewis, this year’s Dame was truly outrageous with quintessential, flamboyant costumes, colourful make-up and witty, sassy lines.

The show takes you with Dick on his journey from rags to riches, meeting his friends and foes along the way. Mix a timeless story with topical references, some musical hits and even a surprise immersive underwater adventure – it’s Christmas entertainment at it’s best for all the family.

Book Tickets now! Dick Whittington is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 15^th January 2017. 

To book tickets go to: atgtickets.com

Peter Pan at MK Theatre- A swashbuckling success

Having interviewed the stars of Peter Pan, now at Milton Keynes Theatre, in this month's Phonebox magazine, we headed over to the show to see if it lived up to expectations... and we're pleased to tell you it most certainly did! MK Theatre was a packed house with young and old alike, and the atmosphere was buzzing even before the curtains came up.

We were looking forward to seeing headliner Bradley Walsh, TV star from Coronation Street and Law & Order: UK, among others, and presenter of The Chase, who was playing the role of Smee. He didn’t disappoint, and was hilariously funny and gripping to watch, leading the audience through the story as the comical baddy who everyone can't help but love. He was definitely the star of the show, and was joined on stage by professional dance crew and stars from Britain's Got Talent, Flawless. They starred as the pirates and Indians, and led the crowd singing and clapping along to their dancing. They incorporated the dance routine and acting in a truly Flawless way, showing their skills and abilities extend further than just dancing. The child actors involved in the show were amazingly confident, and were thoroughly enjoying playing their characters on stage. Peter Pan was played by Wicked star George Ure, giving a great show to make us really believe he was the boy who never wanted to grow up.

It was a show crammed full of entertainment from start to finish, including fire, dancing, singing and humour, it really is a night out for all the family. There were jokes for both adults and children, which had the whole audience roaring with laughter throughout. There was even some audience participation at the end, where two children were selected to go on stage. All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and we would highly recommend taking the whole family. Don't miss out seeing this amazing show, which is at Milton Keynes Theatre until the 11^th January- you’ve still got time to book your tickets!

TV stars and West End actors launch Milton Keynes pantomime

It’s just 85 sleeps until Christmas. Now that may seem like a long way off, but it won’t be long until the chocolate calendars are being opened and the lights are put in the windows. And MK Theatre is just as ready, launching their festive pantomime last week.

Actor, comedian and TV presenter Bradley Walsh (pictured) made his way to Milton Keynes to launch this year’s pantomime, Peter Pan, after appearing at the venue seven years ago. Playing the mischievous Smee, he will be joined by Britain’s Got Talent favourites Flawless as the pirate crew and Oliver-award winning actor David Bedella as the master of villains, Captain Hook.

Joining them on the decks is Wicked and West End star George Ure as the boy who doesn’t want to grow up and Victoria Tyrell as Wendy Darling.

Running from December 5 until January 11, the theatre’s traditional pantomime is sure to be full of the booes, hisses and swashbuckling adventures, as well as some flying.

Speaking at the launch, Bradley said: “I can’t wait to be back in Milton Keynes. I have been dying to get back, but my schedule over the past seven years hasn’t allowed me. However, this year I’m back with a show that will be fun for everyone – especially me!”

Street dance troupe Flawless added: “When you have a good cast like this, you know it will work. We’ll all have fun with it, and to act as part of it too.”

The full cast arrive in Milton Keynes in November to get rehearsals under way, but you’ll have to wait for our December edition to see the full cast interviews.

Tickets available to book now from atgtickets.com or (0844) 871 7652.