Goldilocks & The Three Bears

Anyone who is looking for a first-rate panto knows to look no further than Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company who deliver one of the best pantos in the area and that’s not just in Sheffield.

As we know all pantos need to have a good Dame to ensure the comedy flows all the way through, well here Matthew Walker provides just that, he certainly is a larger than life character in every sense of the word always ready with a funny quip or comment to any audience member who dares to shout anything at him.

This year not only did Matthew deliver the goods as Dame Gertie Dollop; he also did a superb job in directing too, not an easy thing to take on both roles.

As well as a good dame a panto also needs a comedy character, enter Joseph Walker as Silly Billy, another brilliant character from a well-seasoned actor, that is not to suggest Joseph is an older, far from it but he does have the experience to deliver the goods once again and as always he was hilarious.

Another young actor who is able to portray a great character is Luke Harriott who played Ringmaster Heinkel, Luke was nothing short of excellent in this part who was able to sing, dance and act all the way through as well as being slightly evil at the same time.

Providing a good foil to Ringmaster Heinkel as Mystic Sharon was Jessica Rose Carr who played a slightly dipsey “fairy” character who added to the laughs each time she entered the stage.

Pantos also need a good principal girl, who in this case was Goldilocks, described as a pretty young girl with golden hair, enter Sara Hibberd who was perfect and was able to bring everything out of this part to make it believable.

As the story suggests this is Goldilocks’ and the Three Bears and her we had the most loveable three bears I have ever seen on stage, Andrew Stansall, Alison Stansall and Alice Mackenzie as Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear and Baby Bear respectively were all superb, dancing, singing and ensuring the audience loved them. Mention must also be made to Debbie Mather, Katie Rhodes, David Parkin and Andrew Stansall who made the superb bear costumes.

Goldilocks also had a father figure in this piece, Baron Wasteland played to the full by Robert Taylor plus Ringmaster Heinkel’s accomplice, Workie Ticket was in the capable hands of Bev Walker who although was part of the “baddie” team was also able to deliver a good amount of comedy.

Another character in this panto is that of Magical Allen who gave us some quite funny magic tricks a little akin to Tommy Cooper, playing Magical Allen was Ricky Allen who could have been equally at home in a cabaret.

Massive congratulations to everyone involved especially Matthew Walker, Director, Sarah Buckley Asst. Director, Steve Trott, MD and Hayley Wilbourne and Beth Cook as Choreographers. 

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