The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Review
Camp as Christmas
DICK WHITTINGTON
The London panto season gets under way with the Lyric’s dependable halfway house between mainstream conventionality and arty, street-savvy innovation. Expect an embarrassment of innuendos – issuing mainly from Carl Mullaney’s camp-asChristmas Dame.
Lyric Hammersmith, London W6 (020 8741 6850), until Jan 6
ALADDIN
This not-asremote-as-itsounds theatre in the Cotswolds is home to an annual show as warm as a roaring hearth, promising “dancing
Jimmy Osmond joins Meera Syal and acrobatic troupe the Timbuktu Tumblers in one of the biggest regional pantos in the land, sparkling with “flying effects and fairy dust”.
Birmingham Hippodrome (0844 338 5000), until
Jan 27
THE GRAND OLD DAME OF YORK
A living legend in York, Berwick Kaler dolls up as the grand dame for the 40th year. Effectively it’s Kaler’s show, with the rest of the pantomime a kind of beautiful garnish.
York Theatre Royal (01904 623568), until Feb 2
ANDY ZALTZMAN: 2018 – THE CERTIFIABLE HISTORY
The sharp satirist (and host of brilliant topical comedy podcast The Bugle) sums up the highs and lows of the year. Expect a ton of puns. Soho Theatre, London W1 (020 7478 0100), until Jan 5
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Kiri Pritchard-McLean, one of the best MCs in the biz, hosts a line-up including
Phil Nichol and Mick Ferry for a festive bash which promises “huge confetti cannons” and disco into the early hours.
Frog and Bucket, Manchester (0161 236 9805), Dec 31
CIARAN DOWD: DON RODOLFO
Irish character comic
Dowd (formerly of sketch troupe Beasts) plays a swashbuckling Zorro manqué in this gloriously silly romp, which won him the Best Newcomer prize in Edinburgh. It’s the year’s funniest show, bar none. Soho Theatre, London W1 (020 7478 0100), until Jan 12