Berkshire

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading EVIL Fairy and Beauty with spinnng wheel" class="wp-image-59131" style="aspect-ratio:1.5;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



I got&nbsp;insanely&nbsp;drunk on my 18th birthday but <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/search?for=SLEEPING+BEAUTY&amp;venue=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleeping Beauty</a> celebrated hers by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel and falling asleep for 100 years. Bummer, eh!&nbsp;Step up our panto dream team CBeebies star Justin Fletcher and Dame Paul Morse who together play Justy the Jester and Nanny Bubbles in this year&#8217;s modern twist on the traditional fairytale at The Hexagon Theatre in Reading. Will they defeat the evil fairy? Will love conquer all? You know the drill. &#8216;OH YES THEY WILL, Oh no they…&#8217; 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-59132" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



If you’ve forgotten the storyline – knocking back mulled wine from 1 December will do that –&nbsp;Sleeping Beauty is all about the highs and lows of parenthood. Yay, a royal baby, then comes the devastating news that a wicked fairy has cursed the princess to die on her 18th birthday when she&#8217;ll prick her finger on spinning wheel. Grim news, but you have to hand it to&nbsp;The Hexagon&nbsp;– it really knows how to deliver a sparkly festive show-stopper. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1.jpg" alt="Justin Fletcher Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-59133" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Fletcher, each year plays a version of the kind-hearted village idiot, takes on the role of Justy the Jester (and scriptwriter), the son of Nanny Bubbles (Morse) who are much-loved members of the royal family household. Together they play the crowd like the panto pros they are – sharp comic timing, warm personas and they to speak to the audience like old pals knowing that the many of the jokes and set pieces have been recycled. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-59127" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



They are joined by a talented bunch: Carl Tracey as Prince Cloud-Ryder with teeth so white they floodlit the stage,&nbsp;Rachel Delooze as the Wicked Fairy Venomous – great frock, amazing voice – Grace Peters as Fairy Starbright, impressively charging around the stage in a pair of gold stilettos and Sophie Kandola&#8217;s Princess Beauty all had incredible voices.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59134" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



One thing I love about panto is its blatent disregard for the rules of the theatre which allows for a lot of creative license when dealing with the thorny issue of Beauty&#8217;s 100-year coma. A time when she doesn&#8217;t age a minute and hops off her bed as fresh as a daisy. I&#8217;m also pretty sure the 1806 version performed at London Drury Lane Theatre didn&#8217;t feature a time machine or a court jester buzzing around the stage in a mini electric safari jeep being chased by dinosaurs. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59135" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



That said, the Time Machine was a stroke of genius. Dr Who may have his blue police box Tardis, but Justin aka Dr Poo had a blue Portaloo, named the Turdis. It&#8217;s bonkers, but brilliant. I also loved DJ Justin&#8217;s iPod playlist with the Prince Cloud-Ryder and Sleeping Beauty in the woods. Silly, simple but very funny. 



Justin and Paul’s ‘Balloon Ballet’ was back and the crowd went wild. It&#8217;s a genius bit of comic choreography with Fletcher&#8217;s floppy wig flapping away and as he strutted across the stage in black tights and Prima Ballerina Morse&#8217;s disdain at the poor performance. It never gets old. And the cleverly choreographed messy slosh scene that ends with the dame on the deck minus his wig and and &#8216;If I were not in pantomime…&#8217; song and dance were as familiar and comforting as a pair of warm slippers 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1000x667.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-59128" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



There’s year&#8217;s panto villain: the Venomous played by Rachel Dabosse, almost steals the show with her sassy attitude, cackling laugh and powerful voice. But one thing I’d say about&nbsp;Sleeping Beauty&nbsp;is that you could feel the depth of talent. Everyone has top notch singing voices and the dancing was en pointe – keep your eye out for Bex Allingham had the energy and enthusiasm of a toddler after a vat of Haribo.



The night we visited The Hexagon coincided with my son&#8217;s 18th birthday. He managed to avoid pricking his finger, but dis receive a birthday shout out from Mr Tumble and the whole audience sang Happy Birthday to hIM and Linda who was 70. It was a moment. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty panto The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-59129" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/3-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



All in all this is a guaranteed festive fun night out, free of boy band veterans, X-Factor runners-up and reality TV drop-outs and is a Christmas tradition that delivers every single year. See you in 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



GOOD FOR: Panto lovers of all ages. It’s a cheese-fest with familiar jokes and saucy humour that&#8217;s good for parents a bit of light grown-up humour that goes way over little ones’ heads.



NOT FOR: It’s loud and flashy, so if the cultural bar is too low for you, pop back after Christmas.



Tickets for <a style="font-style: italic" href="https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/sleeping-beauty-christmas-panto">Sleeping Beauty is at The Hexagon Theatre</a>, Reading are from £14. Catch a performance between now and 7 Jan 2024.

Review: Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon, Reading

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