Panto season kicks off for me with Lesley Joseph, Paul Chuckle and Rob “Judge” Rinder – and I have no objections! 😇😍
What a year of shows we have had at Milton Keynes Theatre.
The Addams Family, Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!, Bat Out Of Hell, Glyndebourne Opera and the incomparable Les Mis are just some that have come to Milton Keynes Theatre in 2022.
And whilst we have shared tears, emotional stories, dance and songs throughout the year, the festive period aka in theatreland as Panto Season is the most special show time of all.
Panto season is the time where all come to the theatre. whatever your theatre tastes may be. Young, old, the in-betweens and the true believers. The theatre is filled to the brim with families and friends who all believe in the magic of panto at Christmas.
This years panto production at Milton Keynes Theatre is 🥁🥁🥁…
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
I don’t think you need me to tell you the fairytale story of Snow White and even if I did, this is panto! Anything can happen!
Charlotte Haines is Snow White and is every bit the fairytale princess. Beautiful singing, the sweetest nature and of course, a wowsers costume (see last pic – right at the bottom👇🏼!).
The star cast continues with Rob Rinder (Judge Rinder) as ✨ The Man In The Mirror ✨ and Dale Mathurin as 🤴🏽 Prince ✨ Harry of Haversham (see pic below).
I didn’t think I could love Rob Rinder any more than I already did, but last night wowsers, he was ✨MAGICAL✨ on stage.
The panto is filled with songs, incredible jaw-dropping costumes. There’s impressions, audience participation, things being hurled into the audience, and my favourite the twelve days of Christmas – but done a bit non traditional! 😂🧻
Our children (aged 8 and 6) both found the show hilarious (in different ways perhaps). The eldest loving the wicked parts, the youngest loving all the silliness. Us grown ups loved all the silliness too – but all the -wrong- bits that thankfully went over the kids heads! 😂
Also in the cast is Paul Chuckle and Aaron James as Oddjob and Muddles who the children absolutely loved. Pure joyful silliness. 🥰
It’s quite special as a mum to have loved Paul Chuckle so much as a child myself and now my children are loving him too. Proper aww.
The queen that is Lesley Joseph plays, well, THE QUEEN… DRAGONELLA! (pic below). She is the cherry on top of this show, the holly sprig on the pudding, the star on the tree. She’s evil, she’s wicked, she’s hilarious.
It was lovely to hear at the end of the panto how much Lesley Joseph loves Milton Keynes Theatre, having performed here when it was just opened. She was even here only a couple of weeks ago with Sister Act. Just come live here! MK loves you Lesley Joseph – I can’t wait to see you back here again soon.
And on a more sober note, hats off to what a consummate performer Rob Rinder truly is. The loss of a loved one, even more so at Christmas time is devastating. I’ve just read that within the space of a week, Rob Rinder lost a close friend and his beloved dog. Yet he is still on stage providing so much joy to people – you’re incredible.
There always seems to be an amplification as we snowball to the 25th December that for all the amped up joy, our pains dial up to be heard (rightly so) in response. Sending all the love to him and to everyone at this time of year, who through the happiness, joy and tinsel are experiencing bereavement and pain and struggles of all sorts. You aren’t alone.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas. See you all in 2023! Oof!
Are you going to see Snow White? Don’t forget to use the hashtag #MKPanto
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Milton Keynes Theatre Saturday 10 December 2022 – Sunday 8 January 2023
Tickets were kindly gifted by Milton Keynes Theatre but they have zero control over what I post, or say about the performance – that’s all me! Thank you for your support. 🖤
LouBou 