Aladdin is a classic, magical, and delightfully funny pantomime, well-loved for its iconic magic lamp and flying carpet. It’s a favourite for many—thanks in no small part to the Genie. After all, who doesn’t enjoy imagining what they’d wish for with three wishes? The story follows Aladdin, who lives with his mum, Widow Twankey, and his brother, Wishy Washy. Aladdin dreams of marrying Princess Jasmine, and with the help of an old lamp and its Genie, his wish might just come true—though not without interference from the villainous Abanazar.
The set was fairly simple, but this worked well, allowing for smooth transitions between locations with just a backdrop and a few staging blocks. The laundry scenes had the most set pieces, all cleverly used to add humour to the script. In fact, the laundry scene was one of my favourites—second only to the flying carpet moment. The creative use of the mangle for extra jokes was particularly entertaining. True to panto tradition, Wishy Washy’s disappearance into the mangle was a great touch, and I even caught a subtle adult joke on the washing line: a pair of pants cheekily labelled “Not tonight.”
The cast suited their roles perfectly, and everyone put in great energy, especially during the audience participation moments. The children in the audience were treated to a lively, sparkling show—right down to LaLa’s glittery shoes, which really stood out. The only thing I might have liked to see was a more dramatic entrance for the Genie on his first appearance—perhaps a bigger lighting effect to emphasise the moment.
Overall, this pantomime is absolutely worth seeing and excellent value for a three-hour show including an interval. I’m thrilled to hear it has sold out every performance—the hard work of the writers, directors, actors, and backstage crew truly shines on stage.
Now, all that’s left is for me to find an old lamp of my own… who knows, maybe I’ll discover a whole new world!
Reviewed by Emma T.
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