It's a ten from me for Fareham Live's first ever panto. Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard and his professional dancer brother Curtis, of Love Island fame, starred as the £17 million new venue opened its Christmas season in triumphant style. A packed audience of 800 loved every moment of Cinderella, a festive treat which truly had everything you would expect during the silliest of seasons for shows.
(Image: Elliott Franks) READ MORE: Mayflower Theatre 2025 pantomime confirmed - as Jack and the Beanstalk opens Our panto dames - Ugly Sisters Euphemia (Gareth Mitchell) and Lavinia (Garnon Davies) - were simply superb and larger than life as were their costumes, think full on gardens with topiary and giant pottery, huge neon knickers and dresses fashioned from a giant packet of crisps. They're involved in the 'it's behind you' moment to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters, as well as the brilliant 12 Days of Christmas song where the game for a laugh stars find themselves slipping and sliding across the stage after some rather too enthusiastic custard pie fun. The Ugly Sisters are suitably mean to poor Cinderella.
Rhiannon Bacchus performs beautifully in the titular role and it's a delight to see her clever transformation for the ball and her flying carriage. (Image: Elliott Franks) Holding the whole show together is Paul Burling, a superb impersonator who has previously impressed on Britain's Got Talent, as Buttons. Expect to hear from everyone from Alan Carr to Michael McIntyre.