Dick Whittington

The Show

Pantomime is one of the oldest forms of theatre and, combining music outlandish costume and slapstick humour, can today deliver a true theatrical experience for a large audience. This production shows how well it can be done.

Dick Whittington is possibly unique among pantomimes, based loosely on a real-life character, 15th century Lord Mayor of London Sir Richard Whittington.

The story is of young Dick travelling to London, befriending a cat, getting a job in a baker’s shop, falling in love with the shopowners’ daughter, sailing to Morocco, and becoming London’s Lord Mayor; all with the ethereal assistance of a guardian fairy, despite the efforts of a malevolent demon. But this is panto – the story is secondary to colour, music, comedy, acting, dancing, and the overall aim of providing great entertainment. The original Dick Whittington might be proud that, over 500 years later, so much enjoyment would be had in his name.

The Direction, Music and Choreography

This Concordia Pantomime is devised and directed by panto supremo John Hill. John’s attention to detail, his flair for tongue-in-cheek comedy, and his acute sense of theatre are all in evidence here. The direction is well supported by numerous musical numbers, accompanied by an accomplished pit band and recorded tracks, skilfully arranged and directed by Steve Sanders.

Just about every musical number includes dances, cleverly choreographed by Kellie Vallance and Chris Moore, and featuring polished dancers, some very young and dancing delightfully, and all attractively costumed. A major feature of the production.

The Cast

The panto opens with Fairy Bow Bells introducing the story. Played effectively by Kirsty Stoker as a down-to-earth ‘Essex-girl’, she and her delightful team of Assistant Fairies make regular appearances to keep us up to date with the story, and to counter the evil intentions of the ‘posher’ Queen Rat, played with glamorous malevolence by experienced performer Debbie Lacey, who in Act 2 has a chance to show her impressive singing voice.

Kirsty also performs vocally, particularly in the very entertaining ‘Petticoat Lane’ number, where she copes admirably with a long and involved tongue-twisting song interspersed with contributions from several other characters.

Played by Hayley Whitelaw, Dick is of course central to the story. Hayley looks and acts a convincingly traditional Principal Boy throughout the production. True to the folk-tale, Dick is joined by a cat, Tommy, played here by Thomas Ingram, who achieves feline-hero status by ridding the bakers’ shop, and later the Moroccan Sultanate, of rats. Thomas plays the role in skilfully silent mime, except for a few ‘miaows’.

The subject of Dick’s amorous intentions, Alice Fitzwarren, is acted by panto newcomer Brooke Prosser, performing the role with demure assurance and charm, her partnership with Dick providing a sound base for the story and a believable theme amidst the general panto chaos.

Alice’s parents, Alderman & Lady Fitzwarren, are played by well-known Concordia musical performers Charley Alsop and Sarah Middleton. Sarah is clearly at home in her two roles and acts and sings entertainingly throughout. Charley’s stage presence and flair for theatre comedy add character to the confused Alderman, particularly in one scene when, with Sarah, they together manage to render a panto version of the French folk-song The Three Bells while the bellringing continues graphically and hilariously alongside them.

Reece Lowen performs the supporting comedy role of the seafaring Captain Cockle, whose relevance becomes clear when most of the cast undertake a sea voyage to Morocco, where they meet The Sultana, who turns out to be Lady Fitzwarren’s sister, also played by Sarah Middleton. During the course of the production, Reece features impressively in several of the comedy routines.

As in all Concordia Pantos, comedy is the dominating theme. Subtle it isn’t. Consistently hilarious it certainly is, in the very capable hands of Phil Bevington as Sarah the Cook the panto’s ‘Dame’, and Craig Martin as Idle Jack the ‘lovable idiot’. Together, this pair drive the show; their cheeky knockabout comedy ensuring the action never flags. All the usual routines are there, of course. The indispensable “behind you” and “Oh no it isn’t” scenes, a slick ‘apple air-pods’ sequence, and Craig’s unpredictable onstage interview with a couple of young audience members – handled with sensitively spontaneous humour.

The show’s supporting ensemble, particularly in the numerous dance numbers, add colour and movement throughout the production, and the youngest performers – Teams Red and Blue – provide a delightful, talented and well-drilled dimension. Congratulations to all of them.

The technicals

A fast-moving production like this needs dependable technical support to ensure success. Stage Manager John Watts and his team of assistants, electricians, sound and lighting experts, set designers, painters & shifters and numerous backstage crew members ensured that this performance progressed without a hitch. The sets are substantial and attractive. Costumes – as with all John Hill productions – colourful, appropriate and suitably outrageous. Sound and Lighting, both skilfully designed, enhance the performance and the stage picture.

A special mention for the extremely attractive, absorbing and informative Souvenir Programme. A worthy candidate for entry in the annual NODA programme competition.

Special Effects

No Concordia Panto would be complete without a surprise feature - in this production provided by a breathtaking underwater scene with Jack riding an amazing swimming turtle, which really must be seen to be believed!

 

Another very enjoyable Concordia Panto, running for 25 performances and, certainly on this showing, enthusiastically received by capacity audiences. Thank-you to John, his production team and the whole company for some great entertainment.

Colin Blackler

Noda                                                                                                                                                  January 2026

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.