Beauty & the Beast Pantomime

Beauty & the Beast the Pantomime.

Hoylake and West Kirby Theatre Group

8th January 2026

Heh Ho Pantomime Season is upon us once again.  The Gladstone Theatre was full to capacity for Hoylake & West Kirby’s; Beauty & the Beast. This is a richly romantic production that effortlessly blends spectacle, humour and pure slapstick. From the opening moments, the audience is drawn into a world where kindness, courage and love sit at the centre of the story.

Belle (Kaitlin Kay) is a compelling heroine, intelligent, independent and of course beautiful and full of life. Belle adores her father Alphonse (Chris Davies) who she replaced in the Beasts castle. Her journey is thoughtfully portrayed, making her both relatable and inspiring. The Beast/Prince, (Josh Leech) is a complex and moving character; his gradual transformation from anger to vulnerability is handled with sensitivity and emotional depth, giving real weight to the pairs developing relationship. His contribution adds an elegant layer to this fairy tale, reminding us of the cost of arrogance and the redemptive power of compassion. In contrast, Gustave (Mickey Silverman) brings bold energy and humour to the production. His exaggerated bravado and comic villainy provide moments of levity while also driving his determination to have Belle for himself. No pantomime would be without its Dame, Fifi (Jamie Brown) equipped with an outrageous costume, headwear and of course make-up. Her side-kick Jacques (Anna Charles) the audience's best friend and the source of most slapstick humour, had an instant rapport with the audience, together with Fifi they were hysterical. Where is the nasty ‘sisters’ I hear you ask yourself, Britany (Gill Eason) and Whitney (Louise Gleave) the quintessential excentric pantomime characters, marvellous. The sisters constantly attend the hair & beauty salon run by Monique (Katie Brown) & Marcel (Jonathan McAdams who were a joy to watch. Another customer no doubt is the outrageous Madame Le Fou (Les Broadbere) who only had eyes for Belle’s father Alphonse. The enchantress Belladonna (Gemma George) cast a spell on the prince for his arrogance, turning him into a Beast. Audiences love a villain, the usual booing and hissing, wonderful. Now the Good Fairy Flora (Erin Moxham) who is determined to reverse Belladonna’s spell. Her opportunity comes when Belle realises, she is in love with the Beast, which breaks the evil spell.

Directors Dawn Smith & Jamie Brown chose a stella cast and production crew for this production. Visually, the production was a delight: bold costumes, vibrant staging and energetic musical numbers all combined with imaginative lighting (Jamie Moran) & sound (Elliot Tutt) musical director Jeff Broadbere, exciting choreography (Liam Comer) to create a magical atmosphere.

Beauty & the Beast is a joyful celebration of storytelling, with strong characterisation and an enduring message that true beauty lies within. It remains a timeless story that delights audiences of all ages. Congratulations to H.A.W.K for delivering a delightful evening of the madness that is pantomime.

I am looking forward to the next production, Annie in May.

 

Joanne Rymer

District 4

NODA

 

 

 

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