Beauty and the Beast the Panto

Beauty & the Beast (Pantomime version) was staged by Waterloo & Crosby Theatre Company at Bootle Town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle, Liverpool on Saturday, 29th November 2026

This pantomime version of Beauty and the Beast was published by Limelight Scripts which tells the story of a Prince transformed into a Beast, and his eventual redemption through the love of a girl called Belle.  It tells of an ill-fated bet between Fairy Rose and the evil Witch Thorn, a bet which leads the prince being turned into a beast by Witch Thorn. If he is to break free from her spell, then he must find somebody to love him before the last petal on an enchanted rose falls. The pantomime cast contains many traditional pantomime characters; it also has a couple of funny scenes featuring Belle’s ugly stepsisters and the Beast.

The Production Team ... led once again by the unwavering Nicci Henshaw (Director) and her Co-Directing Debutant Niall Quigley with Sarah Henchskelt (Musical Director/Choreographer). ‘The Team’ had gathered a good cast together, all of whom, from the start, looked happy, well-rehearsed and up for the challenges that lay ahead. Sarah had done some simple yet cleverly devised choreography which suited the dancers and played to their strengths, what really was apparent, was that you don’t need over-elaborate choreography to impress, you just need ‘choreo’ that’s done well, looks effective and plays to the strengths of your dancers and Sarah had done that ever so well. This was an ‘old venue’ revisited, not one without its challenges, but I felt WCTC once again dealt with them very well. Beauty and the Beast isn’t the easiest of productions to stage, the expectations surrounding the ‘transformation’ scenes in particular, are two vital scenes, get them wrong and you lose so much, get them right, which I felt WCTC did, then you’re well on your way to a good production…. so, if the applause and hoot and holla’s that greeted the finale were anything to go by, then this was a production which was enjoyed by the almost full house present that evening!

The Cast ...  a cast of thirty-six took to the stage and from ‘curtain up’ ...they all looked happy, engaged and well-cast.  They included the following:-
Grace O’Rourke played ‘Belle’; Daniel Housley played ‘Prince Louis’ and the ‘Beast’;
Liz Kewley played ‘Dolly Dohnut’ (Dame), Stuart Gray played ‘Crouton’
Ian Robinson & Will Martin (Comedy Duo) played ‘Nutella’ and ‘Canderel’ respectively;
Jason Sinclair played ‘Mr Baugette’; Isaac Arnold played ‘Gustave’;
Helen McLoughlin played ‘Garcon’; Evie Bard played ‘Fairy Rose’ &  Alex Faulkner played ‘Witch Thorn’.
Dancers... Grace Pearce (Dance Captain), Jessica Dearden, Georgie Wilson, Alice Dearden, Olivia Housley, Scarlett Roberts, Emily Wall, Grace Pearce, Chloe Kewley & Alice Owens.
Youth Dancers... Nancy Dickman, Isabella Jones, Poppy Grant, Eleanor Housley, Chloe Quinn & Nieve Marshall.  Ensemble... Liz Swainston, Zachary Kewley, Libby Wilson, Poppy Sinclair, Wilfred Archer & Issy Robinson ...  SAXOPHONIST ... Jessica Dearden.

As most will now, this is ‘sticky neck’ out time for me … where I start to suggest MY ‘show stealer’ and MY ‘favourite characters’, but, I’m not sure we actually had a ‘show stealer’! We had some great performances, but I’m of the opinion that the ‘efforts of everyone’ contributed to the success of this production! But, having said that, I did have several favourites which I’d like to share with you now…  Grace O’Rourke and Daniel Housley did great jobs with our leads...  ‘Belle’ and ‘Prince Louis’ – the ‘Beast’ respectively. There was a ‘believable’ chemistry between this seventeen and sixteen-year-old, that grew as the production progressed, which is vital’ if these two characters are to come to life! Both had good stage presence, good singing voices and worked well together and with the cast… well done you two, be proud!  Another youngster, fourteen-year-old Isaac Arnold, took on the role of the ‘nasty pasty’ that is ‘Gustave’. For someone so young Isaac nailed this role, giving us all the characteristics you’d expect… brutish, vain, rude, someone who just love’s himself and thinks the World revolves around him. Isaac had good stage presence, good diction, loved the character created… be proud Isaac good job!  From ‘bully’ to ‘OMG’… the only phrase I can think of to describe ‘Nutella & Canderel’ played with great aplomb by Ian Robinson and Will Martin. Another two great characters created… ‘polar opposites’ which worked ever so well! I think I described Ian at post show cast meet as ‘Ugly’, but Will looked like a ‘Victoria Secrets’ model, my daughter actually thought Will was female! Laugh, I laughed so much!  Great stage presence, worked ever so well together, two great characters created, right up my street… … be very proud guys! I could go on… so many good characters created, but, if I may I’d like to make ‘special mentions’ of two other characters, firstly Evie Baird’s characterisation of ‘Fairy Rose’.  Evie made a terrific job of this ‘ethereal role’, confident, assured on stage, creating a character that she should be very proud off.  Secondly Jessica Dearden... I hadn’t had chance to read the programme preshow, so when Jessica appeared with saxophone in hand and then started to play, I thought, like all the music used, it was pre-recorded, but NO! At the cast meet post show, I discovered that Jessica actually played live… great sound… great talent, something she wants to pursue in her future … don’t forget us when you’re famous Jess … impressive! 

Staging/Set/Tech… as is the norm with all staging here at WCTC we had the ever-impressive Colin Wilson leading his gang assisted by Niall Quigley. As is the norm at WCTC., everything worked ever so smoothly... congrats to Robin, Sandra, Ava, Lisa and Lisa the Backstage Team. Sound and Lighting were operated by Kevin Ainscough and Alex Sinclair respectively. There were one or two issues with the sound, but nothing that really affected the overall production. Lighting was good throughout. Scenery and Props were in the capable hands of Colin/Niall, Nicci, Lisa, Sandra, Ian, Heather, Jason, Lisa, Kate and Louise... well done one and all.

Costumes... costumes were fabulous, of the era and totally fit for purpose designed/created by Louise Dearden, Lisa Wall, Nicci Henshaw, Lisa Grant, Kate Archer, Clare Hyams and Jessica Dearden be very proud one and all... you did well, be proud!  

Chaperones ... there are so many people assist in getting a show to stage … but whenever we have a ‘young person’ on stage or a ‘Youth Production’ taking place, then it is essential that we have the services of our ‘chaperones’!  Without these amazing ‘selfless volunteers’ who help provide the ‘safe and secure environment’ needed to allow these young people to perform, shows like this could not happen – (for this production) those dedicated volunteers included Louise Dearden & Lisa Wall (Matron Co-ordination), Lisa Feeney, Kate Archer, Sam Marshall, Claire Hyams, Anne Pennington, Chris Almond, Sarah Amoid, Pay Howard, Nicola Quinn, Claire Baird, Nicki Dickman, Nikki Wilson and Elaine Birch … we thank you so much for your involvement and your dedication.

Constructive Advice... ‘Spoken Word/Diction/Projection’ – not a criticism, purely advice for the future! Audiences need to hear and understand every word you speak or sung on stage, even those sat on Row Z. Your diction/projection was generally good throughout and from some impressive... but, it’s vital that ‘everyone’ remembers this and attempts to achieve it! Your audience needs to hear /understand everything you say, so remember, project to that back wall! Personally, I’m always overjoyed when I know my lines – but just knowing lines, without adding some ‘light and shade’, emotion, articulation, accentuation which are all vital commodities if you’re to bring life to that script!      

Thanks, you so much for inviting my wife and I... we truly did enjoy the pantomime!  Thanks for your welcome and for allowing me to briefly chat with the cast post show... well done to everyone involved!

Stay safe, Keep well
Stronger Together
Jim Briscoe ...
NODA NW... District 6 Rep

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