I visited the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth to see their pantomime production of Aladdin. It was my first visit to this venue, and overall it’s a lovely theatre with a welcoming atmosphere.
The scenery for this production was very good, with thoughtful additions that helped bring the story to life. Lighting was well programmed, serving the production effectively and covering everything it needed to.
Sound-wise, there were a couple of moments where the music overpowered the dialogue, making it hard to hear the actors. During the second half there were some sound issues, which did distract slightly from the overall experience.
The production itself is quite fast-paced, moving briskly from scene to scene. All the expected pantomime quirks are present, which energised the audience and kept the children fully engaged. There are plenty of jokes throughout, so it definitely appeals to a wide family audience.
As this was the first performance — essentially a preview night — there were a few areas that could be strengthened. For example, the opening scene didn’t feel particularly enthralling; it came across as a little underwhelming and lacked the spark that fully sets the tone.
The choreography of the dancers felt quite rudimentary. The dancers themselves are clearly trained professionals with far more ability than the routines asked of them. The performers were flawless, but the dance material could be elevated to better match their skill level and bring more visual excitement to the stage.
Individual shout-outs go to Nathan McGowran as Wishee Washee, who spent more time on stage than Aladdin and truly propelled the show forward. He embraced the role with confidence and charisma, and his performance generated a lot of energy.
Reece Yarnold as Aladdin delivered well, though he really shone more noticeably later in the show.
Izzie McGee as Princess Jasmine was perfectly cast, with fantastic vocals. She performed the role beautifully, and if anything, I would have loved to see even more of her character on stage, simply because she lit up the scenes she was in.
The audience clearly enjoyed the show, and the children in particular were very excited by what unfolded on stage. One thing I felt missing was a touch of ad-libbing from the Dame — these spontaneous moments usually add extra laughter and could have made the production feel even more playful.
As an opening night performance, there are a few areas — as mentioned above — that could raise the production’s bar further. However, this is still a joyful festive show, full of silliness and charm. For many children it may be their very first taste of theatre, and it certainly leaves them with a positive impression.
Overall, this is a solid four-star production. With the tweaks highlighted above, it has strong potential to grow into a standout five-star pantomime.
A joyful festive pantomime that delights its young audience and promises even more magic as the run continues. 4 Stars
The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, Northumberland
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