Mother Goose

Dryburn Theatrical Workshop delivered another highly successful pantomime with their production of Mother Goose, their 11th bespoke pantomime, once again demonstrating the strength and cohesion of this society. The strong and very funny script, written by Tom Whalley, provided an excellent foundation, packed with humour and opportunities for audience engagement.

One of the real highlights of this production was the ensemble work. Every member of the cast contributed fully, creating a vibrant and energetic show throughout. The dance numbers, choreographed by Rebecca Scott, were particularly impressive, featuring a wide range of styles including ballet and tap. The routines were sharp, well-rehearsed, and performed with enthusiasm and commitment by all involved. A special mention must go to Rebecca, whose work ensured the choreography was delivered with precision and clarity.

Standout numbers included the Lady Gaga medley, which was cleverly blocked as the main fight scene and worked exceptionally well, and the show-stopping “Shake Your Tail Feather”, a perfect fit for the pantomime genre and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

The costumes throughout the production were eye-catching and added greatly to the overall impact of the show. They were colourful, imaginative, and perfectly suited to the pantomime style. In particular, Priscilla’s costume was a real standout. The goose outfit was highly effective, visually striking, and well-designed, allowing for both strong characterisation and physical comedy. Despite the challenges of performing in such a costume, it never restricted the performance and instead enhanced the humour and charm of the character.

Director Michelle once again brought together a fun-packed pantomime with several inventive and imaginative ideas. The use of Fairy Liquid on pointe shoes to give the character a floating effect was a particularly inspired touch, and the props used during the sky scene added greatly to the visual storytelling. The lighting design also deserves special praise, enhancing the atmosphere and helping the audience fully engage their imagination throughout the performance.

The cast was led confidently by Lee Passmoor as Mother Goose. Lee demonstrated excellent audience rapport, using this skill to great effect to drive the production forward. Joseph Coulson gave a very funny and engaging performance as Silly Billy, with his improvisation skills particularly shining—most memorably when the Golden Egg fell off the stage and he enlisted help from the prompt, Dorothy Rae. Erin Stabler faced the challenging role of Priscilla, performing in a full goose costume with mask. Her physical comedy and expressive use of a half-mask were excellent, and she also delivered a beautifully sung duet.

Strong supporting performances came from Jill Maynot (Emma Coulson), Fairy Liquid (Victoria Jackson), and Mayor Maynot (Chris Coates), each enjoying standout moments. Emma’s decorating scene, where she decorates Silly Billy’s face, was especially well played and very funny. Victoria delivered lengthy rhyming passages with confidence and consistency, while Chris skilfully handled multiple character elements with ease as the Mayor.

Phil Stabler gave a commanding performance as the villain, Demon Fois Gras, with strong vocals and clear characterisation. Pauline Wright was a delight as Giblet the sidekick, quickly winning over the audience and playing a key role in saving the day—her memorable “evil laugh” will certainly linger long after the final curtain.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable pantomime. Despite some challenging scenes, the production was handled with confidence and care. Every performer created a clear individual character, and the enjoyment on stage was evident. The audience was rewarded with a lively, imaginative, and entertaining evening. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on another excellent achievement

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