• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Saturday, May 24, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Fifteen roads seeing resurfacing as next six-week phase of improvements starts next week

    Royal Berks Charity funds new defibrillators at RBH

    Vape-related fires jump by 400% since 2020, data shows

    UTC students lead the way on sustainability at multi-academy trust summit

    Ciphr nominated for three awards at Thames Valley Tech and Innovation Awards

    Ex-police officer and comedian Alfie Moore bringing new show to Town Hall

    Tickets for RABBLE’s William The Conqueror on sale on Saturday

    Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles elected as Mayor of Reading

    Workers ‘optimistic but overwhelmed’ about AI, new research shows

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    ‘Without you, there would be no club’: Defender sends farewell message to Reading FC fans

    Style and splendour returns to Newbury

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

Sleeping Beauty is one of the best pantomimes The Hexagon has ever staged

Phil Creighton by Phil Creighton
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 12:28 pm
in Entertainment, Featured, Reading
A A
Sleeping Beauty is at The Hexagon this Christmas Picture: reading arts

Sleeping Beauty is at The Hexagon this Christmas Picture: reading arts

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Sleeping Beauty

The Hexagon

Until January 7

0118 960 6060

www.readingarts.com

Related posts

Fifteen roads seeing resurfacing as next six-week phase of improvements starts next week

Royal Berks Charity funds new defibrillators at RBH

Vape-related fires jump by 400% since 2020, data shows

UTC students lead the way on sustainability at multi-academy trust summit

OLD FAVOURITES in a new setting: that’s Sleeping Beauty.

This year’s Hexagon pantomime is a magical adventure that innovates, while respecting the genre’s traditions. In short, it’s magnificent, superb, delightful and wonder-full.

Written once again by star Justin Fletcher, it is truly a 21st-century show that captures the imagination from the very first scene.

After a deft prologue which sees the good Fairy Starbright (Gracie Peters) spar with Fairy Venomous (Rachel Delooze), the show opens with an impressive song and dance ensemble number that introduces Sophie Kandola (Princess Beauty), Carl Tracey (Prince Cloud-Ryder), King Kindness (David J Higgins) and Nanny Bubbles (Paul Morse).

It is one of Justin’s strengths that he writes for the actor, and this is seen not just in this opener, but across the show. Because all roles except Beauty and Starbright are taken by returning cast members, it means they are perfectly tailored so the roles fit like a glove.

Rachel’s stunning singing voice is given plenty of moments to shine, meaning she is more than just a two-dimensional scenery-chewing baddie.

Carl makes a convincing prince – after playing pauper Jack going up a beanstalk last year – and his partnership with Sophie, making her panto debut, is well realised. It isn’t just a love story, they really are side-by-side in their battle against Fairy Venomous.

David’s king isn’t a fool, or bumbling along. He has charm and wit, sparkling with joy across the show.

All of this dovetails into the incredibly powerful double act of Paul and Justin as dame and comic foil respectively. The pair have such a chemistry together you long for more every time they leave the stage. The laughter they create resonates loudly throughout The Hexagon as their jokes, slapstick and bonhomie create much merriment.

Justin’s arrival is a high-octane musical treat that shows his versatility as a performer. Although known as Mr Tumble, his comic timing, acting skills and singing are all top notch. Throughout the show there are moments for him to showcase his immense skills.

Paul also gets his solo moments, and goodness they are glorious.

Reading is lucky to have him as resident dame, and long may he reign over us. His performance is magnificent.

The story of Sleeping Beauty is followed loosely. It’s there, spinning wheel, big sleep and all, but it is not a straightjacket to the entertainment that awaits. And this is a big advantage. Do not expect a Disney-style retelling, but instead something different that is a delight to watch.

This is a neat adventure story that never sags in pace, but delights at every scene.

What are the innovations? What is the same? All the key elements are all present and correct, including the Ghostbusters routine, the messy cake-in-the-face, the UV dance number, and the flimsy love story. So are the corny jokes as well as the topical ones.

But it is packaged around a single set that is beautiful to look at, and needs minimal ‘front of curtain’ scenes to cover for the scenery changing. This is a real change and it means the show moves at a quite a pace. It is unlikely that anyone will have time to get bored.

The choice of songs is great with a real mixture of pop classics and more modern stuff. A routine with an iPod (remember them?) brings the house down while also presenting a showcase for the cast’s incredible musical dexterity.

Beauty and the prince’s big number – The Power of Love – is wonderful in itself, but the game is raised by Justin’s pratfalls. How they get through it with a straight face is beyond me.

And fans of one of Justin and Paul’s most famous routines will be delighted that it is reprised, and is still just as funny as it was the first time.

Adding to the spectacle are the delightful ensemble dancers, Bex Allingham, Nico D’Souza, Alfie Kennedy and captain Honor O’Neill, and the junior chorus. The show – and Generous City – would be poorer without them.

And there is one additional element that makes Sleeping Beauty work so wonderfully: the crews from The Hexagon, both front-of-house and backstage, and show producers Imagine Theatre. Without them, there would be no show.

Truly, this is one of the best pantomimes The Hexagon has ever staged.

PHIL CREIGHTON

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Kennetside towpath closures to be lifted for Christmas season

Next Post

Reading FC owner Dai Yongge fined

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Young man and woman attacked by group of teenagers in Reading robbery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thousands experience power outage in Reading, not expected to be fixed for hours

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC group Sell Before We Dai makes generous donation following end of campaign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC takeover: EFL provides update as sale nears completion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.