Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs

One of the highlights of Ulverston's local theatre scene is, of course, Ulverston Pantomime Society`s annual pantomime- how do we know this? Because the cast tell us so. This year's production was Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

As the title states, this is a fusion of two stories in one, with the Big Bad Wolf trying to capture the Three Little Pigs, whilst Red`s evil stepmother, Ursula is eager to rid us of Granny, so she can inherit Granny`s fortune-drafting the Big Bad Wolf in to help with her nefarious scheme. 

As with every pantomime we meet other characters along the way in the form of useless woodcutters-Bark and Trunk, Fin the Pig Farmer, Gerald- Red's dad, Will the Woodcutter, Red herself, and of course, The Three Little Pigs- Rodney, Derek and Albert ....... I`ll leave you to fill in the blanks.

Mark Johnson led the charge as Granny (the dame), delivering the expected mix of silliness and audience engagement, totally embracing the pantomime spirit- as ever, Mark didn`t mind making a fool of himself, and wasn`t too concerned when things derailed slightly- a telltale increase in the number of “anyways” during one section let us know that all onstage were improvising more than expected—but to be fair, it added to the fun for those in the know.

Adam Atkinson took on the role of Fin- the simple lad who's madly in love with Red. Adam played the role well, though on occasion got a bit shouty in some of the dialogue-we know Fin is an excitable character, but does he have to be so loud? I think that if the mic`s were off during dialogue, it wouldn`t be as much of a problem.

Rodney, Derek and Albert were played in great porcine fashion by Angela Nevison, Sue Little and David Salmon (he of the odd snowman costume the previous year).

Will the Woodcutter (Kim Huck) and Red Riding Hood (Helen Day) made a charming couple, with just the right amount of thigh slapping (their own, not each others, I might add) and loving looks for us not to need a diabetes shot afterwards.

The comedy duo, Bark and Trunk, (Steve Thompson and Denise King) were played well- as with all roles like this, comedy is all in the timing- may have been first night jitters, but on the odd occasion this was slightly out.

Nicky Diggle was deliciously evil as Ursula, the evil stepmother , pulling both Gerald`s strings (Peter Buckley) and Mr Wolf's.

Russ Palmer, as the Wolf, cut an imposing figure with a performance which was energetic and suitably menacing, though at times it felt like his menace was more directed at the audience than at his foes in the story. Whilst he cut an imposing evil beast face on, side on his mask made him look a tad like Scratch- the acorn chasing mammal in Ice Age, which took us away from the nasty character he's supposed to be, and made it a bit harder to stay in dislike mode for him.

A notable improvement this year was how well the dance sequences were integrated into the production.  Ulverston traditionally follows a dance troupe format, and this year’s incorporation of those moments felt more natural and beneficial to the overall flow of the show. The dancers, choreographed by Alex Mattinson, were a real highlight, bringing energy and vibrancy to the stage.

Unfortunately, it was sad to hear that one of the dancers injured their ankle towards the end of Act One. However, the remaining dance team handled the situation with incredible professionalism, seamlessly adjusting to the absence and carrying on with confidence in Act Two. That’s a real testament to their teamwork and dedication—well done to them all.

While panto is meant to be lighthearted and playful, audiences still need a thread to follow—and this year, the story itself felt rather vague. Without a clear structure, it was sometimes difficult to stay engaged with the plot. Panto thrives on its mix of comedy, music, and audience participation, but a stronger narrative backbone would have helped tie everything together more effectively.

Pacing was a bit of an issue, though as the week ran, things probably got slicker. The first half ran long, and audience members were heard commenting on the length of the evening overall- younger audience members have limited attention spans, and keeping things concise and snappy is key to keeping them engaged.

Visually, the show was a treat. The set was fabulous, with beautiful backcloths that added a lovely touch of magic to the production. 

The orchestra under Lizzie Greaves baton also did a great job, supporting the show with well-played, energetic music.

Sue Little as Director of the production must have been really proud of the cast- the panto was packed with the usual fun, laughter, and audience interaction, it delivered plenty of classic panto moments, even (through no fault of the Director) if the storytelling at times felt a little unclear.

This year’s Red Riding Hood delivered plenty of the traditional panto fun that Ulverston audiences have come to expect. The strong dance sequences, great set design, and enthusiastic cast made for an entertaining night, even if some areas—like pacing, storytelling clarity, and character development—could have used more attention. The spirit of pantomime was certainly alive and well, and the show had its moments of brilliance. With a few tweaks in future productions, it could be even stronger.

Thank you Ulverston Panto Society, for your invite and hospitality.

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