Review: The Priory hits the right note with this family fun production.

The Priory has an almost sold out run for its 2025 pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

This well known story is given a make over which was explained to us by Petal Pop [Jo Banbury], a good fairy masquerading as a performer at Spin-a-Lot, a circus owned by Dame Sadie [Paul Scully] and her son Jake [Connor Cunningham].

The circus was in financial difficulties and being threatened by the evil Baroness Winkle Hoffer [Sharon Sully] and needed a new act to revive its fortunes.

Jo, who has had contrasting roles at The Priory this year, gave Petal Pop the right amount of gentleness without being dainty. Connor and Paul kept the full house amused with their banter and bickering. Connor, already a veteran of pantomimes at his young age, brought wonderful vigour and enthusiasm to the role, while Paul, in outrageous costumes, teased with his repartee. Their double act clearly hit the right cord with this audience.

The circus ring master Colin [Robert Bateman] and Goldilocks [Rose Bird] fell in love as they sought a solution to the circus’s problems, and when Goldilocks met the three bears they agreed to help the circus against the wicked Baroness. Sharon conveyed the Baroness’s megalomania with a wicked mittel European accent, berating all around her, including her reluctant henchman Pedro [George Haughie].

Songs and dancing were effortlessly incorporated into the story. Cast members sang duets or foursomes, and Claudia Temple’s choreography and dance routines were a particular highlight of the performance, with tap and ballet pieces. The ensemble had clearly rehearsed well and performed impeccably. Mike Brooks’ direction and Claudia’s choreography combined to delight the audience.

In a clever touch, three members of the troupe, Molly, Hannah and Hallé, were in bear costumes. Others did the voiceovers off stage but the trio synchronised well to the voices speaking their lines, and were even part of a group dance routine. Set design by Simon Lucas and the director was effective as a series of backdrops. Avoiding furniture props allowed the actors, dance and musicality to tell the story. The Priory does not have a large stage so Mike and Claudia used the space well.

The script needed more jokes and the running gags about different cheeses would be lost on younger children, and the tempo needed to increase. The cast and crew did a very competent job with this production. This was very family-friendly, as pantomimes should be, and family groups from grandparents down to young children going to their first pantomime will come away smiling.