The Grinch

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, and nothing is more Christmassy that a community pantomime performed by a local theatre team in their own home town.  I was very much looking forward to being back in Blyth to see what the Blyth Players Team had created and I was not disappointed in any aspect of the show! From the start, the packed house at the Barnby Memorial Hall were treated to a high energy, enthusiastic performance that included all the key ingredients of a classic pantomime.

In the lead was Benedict Westoby as the Grinch and in every scene he was involved in he provided the audience with the perfect villain as he plotted and schemed to steal Christmas.  A very enjoyable delivery by Benedict who also directed the show to great effect.  AJ Marshall was also on fine form as Pinchit, the Grinch’s henchman.  This was AJ’s first time playing a villain and he revelled in the part and certainly got the audience booing and hissing in all the right places.

Every good pantomime needs a great Dame and Lloyd Hawkins as Aunt Nora provided just the right level of energy and audience engagement throughout the show.   Tracy McVann as Charlie Chuckles (and choreographer) was very much on the side of the Angels in this production and again managed to engage all the member of the audience, young and young at heart alike, with her high energy delivery and infections good humour.

Becky Nelson brought the Mayor very much to life and was quite unrecognisable thanks to her facial makeup.  I have seen Becky in many roles over the years and was very surprised to see this was her first Christmas Pantomime as she certainly brought an assured delivery that was very much on point.

Olivia West, Avah Brown and Orla Cullen all delivered vey assured performances as Annie, Polly and Grimble throughout the show and really helped the more mature audience members (me included) once again see Christmas through the eyes of children with all its magic and wonder, which is why it needed to be saved from the Grinch.

It was great to see Barry Pickwell again, this time in the role of Santa which Barry ensured was filled with good cheer in all his scenes.  Alongside Barry Jeanette Adams as Mrs Clause showed the audience who really was the organisational genius behind the delivery of Christmas!

Becky Jones was spot-on as the Spirit of Christmas – from starting the show to her frequent appearances as the narrator you could see many of the girls and boys in the audience being captivated by her magical presence.  Emma Hobson was one of my favourite characters in the show as the Snow Queen.  She really brought out the regal side of the character and also a strength and underlying contempt for the Grinch and all his plotting.

In addition to the acting performances the Blyth Players pantomime was blessed with high energy dance numbers that were expertly led by Becky Westoby and her Dance Captain Elizabeth Smith   The show was packed with set pieces that involved all the principals and Chorus alike and you could see the enjoyment in every face.  This element of the Panto was key to keeping the energy up and the audience engaged so many congratulations to Harvey, Alice, Jessica, Daisy, Poppy, Fleur, Hattie, Isla, Taya, Miley, Ella, Madeline, Evelyn, Evie and Jayden.

The whole performance was the perfect introduction to Christmas 2025.  Great lighting, audience participation, sound and costumes all added to the enjoyment, and you should all be proud of what you created which obviously went down well with your audiences if this performance is anything to go by.

Many congratulations to you all and I look forward to seeing you again in 2026.

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