A Whitting-ton of panto fun
WITH only a few weeks until Christmas, panto season is in full swing and this year in Hounslow it is a fight of good over evil as Dick Whittington and his companions take on the wrath of the villain King Rat.
The show promises to be bigger than last year’s Cinderella, with more intricate dance numbers and impressive set designs, including a beach, the London Underground and a wooden ship at sea.
Oh yes, from the streets of London, all the way to a shipwreck in Morocco, this show is a real adventure for audience members, who will certainly need to be prepared to scream out their famous line, “He’s behind you”, in a bid to ensure the heroes remain safe.
We sneaked into the dress rehearsal for the show at the Hounslow Arts Centre to get the gossip ahead of its opening to the public.
Writer and director Jonathan Ashby-Rock is returning to the stage in the lead role and he says the performance is a step up from previous years.
“We’ve put a lot more into the production quality, the set is bigger and there are more costumes,” he said. “We’ve added some dancers, we’ve got more people in the cast and it’s just a much, much more complicated show.
“We’re trying to grow every year so the audiences come back and they get more and more and more.”
Also returning to the Hounslow stage is Will Seaward, who is stepping over to the dark side in the role of King Rat.
Donning a dress once more, Adam Russell-Owen returns to the stage as Sarah the Cook, alongside Sullivan Brown playing wealthy London merchant Alderman Fitzwarren, and the voice of the King of Morrocco.
New to the Hounslow Arts Centre stage is Gabrielle Sabel, playing the feisty Alice Fitzwarren, and dance graduate Rosie Kimble who plays Dick’s sidekick Tammy the Cat.
“It’s a really fast-paced, fun show,” Jonathan added, “lots of singing and dancing and loads of comedy.
“The same sort of thing as last year – lots of puns and gags, lots of sailing at sea from being in a bakery and being on a beach in Morocco. We’ve got a muppet puppet, so they can just expect loads and loads of fun and to just be swept up on an adventure.”
In three (well four) words, the cast described the show as “colourful”, “absurdist” and “dancetastic/fun”!
The pantomime is running until December 30, with an adult only performance on December 29. Tickets costs £14.50 for adults, £12.50 for concessions, or £40 for a family ticket.