As a child a trip to the panto was something we did every New Years Eve. I remember loving be able to stay up late and join in with all the fun and magic a panto has to offer.
Sadly it’s not a tradition I’ve kept up with my own children so I was really pleased to be asked along to by Sutton Theatres to the Secombe to check out their production of Pinocchio.
We arrived a little before the show started which gave us some time to relax on the comfy sofas in the foyer, grab a drink and make a special wish to be placed on their Christmas tree which I thought was a lovely touch. Number two also enjoyed spending her pocket money on the lucky dip they had made to keep the children amused.
We took to our seats and first to take to the stage was the traditional panto dame. She played Mama Carla a big bubbly character who had her sights set on Gepeto, Pinocchio’s father.
The much loved story of Pinocchio a wooden puppet who’s greatest wish is to become a real boy is granted after a long journey teaching him the importance of telling the truth, friendship and love.
Melissa Suffield who many of you will know from Eastenders does a fantastic job of playing the cheeky fairy along with the naughty cat. Both roles she fills fantastically and much to my delight embarrassed number two by pointing him out in the audience at one point!
Pinocchio himself comes across as the childlike, fumbily character you would imagine him to be; and his singing and tap dancing were fantastic.
My favourite though was the charismatic, cheeky fox that simply lit up the stage. He really played a fantastic lovable rogue.
I loved that the children were introduced to the massive audience participation that comes with a panto. They loved shouting at the stage, grabbing sweets that were thrown out to them and having a little boogie in their seats!
One of the things that had made me avoid taking the children before was the running time. I would never of imagined they could have been kept amused for two hours but I didn’t get one moan from any of them.
Number two being a teenager is my biggest critic at the moment but he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and my wiggly bottomed toddler didn’t take his eyes from the stage at all.
I would highly recommend getting yourselves along to see this production that I guarantee the whole family will love.
I was given tickets to this performance for the purpose of this review and they are all my own honest opinions.
LOve the panto, went for the first time last year with an organised group of adults and realised how much I loved it, so have got tickets for the kids as part of the Christmas and we are off on Thursday evening to see it
That’s fantastic, I hope your enjoy it as much as we did