Sleeping Beauty is a traditional tale which is told countless times over the festive period. However, the Storyhouse in Chester has given this iteration, which is a Storyhouse Original, a complete makeover. Whilst the writer (Samantha O'Rourke) must be commended for making this traditional and timeless tale feel unique, unfortunately the plot seems slightly discordant and jarring at times.
In this retelling, Aurora (Grace Venus) is required to marry to prevent the evil Maleficent (Polly Lister) from ruling the kingdom. Aurora's fairy godmothers (Caitlin Drake, Tovah Zafrin and Pavanveer Sagoo respectively) take it upon themselves to match-make to find the man of Aurora's dreams - and it turns out, they only need to enjoy singing. Here's where the Prince (Will Kirk) comes in - he loves being in the spotlight and serenades Aurora to win her heart. Alongside this, Aurora's arch-nemesis (or is he?) (Scott Gutteridge) is trying to convince Aurora to reconsider her marriage to the Prince as they are secretly in love. Add in two talking squirrels (Alexander McGonagle and Hannah Blakeley) who love nothing more than the reduced aisle at Tesco, a duck (Tom Richardson) who's Maleficent's right-hand man, or duck, should I say?, and an alternative realm with a half Christmas pudding and half ice cream figure.
Whilst it's a fun story that doesn't take itself too seriously, with ample opportunities for audience participation and audience interaction, allowing the audience to lose themselves in the magic of pantomime, it doesn't seem to flow as well as the traditional tale. Also, it seems a little disappointing that the whole plot relies on Aurora having to depend on another person rather than encouraging independent young women. Furthermore, some of the characters, whilst enjoyable in their own right, do not aid to the plot in the slightest.
Grace Venus is endearing as Aurora and gives a solid performance, especially as a new graduate. There is undeniable chemistry between Venus and Gutteridge which lends a hand to the nature of the plot. Polly Lister is an incredible maleficent and truly makes the character her own, with her hilarious Ted Talks on the current state of the world. Lister is truly captivating and makes her mark as a true Christmas villain.
Kirk as the Prince gives a standout performance. With a character reminiscent of & Juliet's Romeo, Kirk fully embodies the campness of a Prince who loves to sing and being the centre of attention. Kirk effortlessly wins the hearts of the audience and is a sure performer to watch out for in the future. Richardson is fun as the cockney duck and works the crowd well. Drake, Zafrin and Sagoo bask in the essence of Panto, with Drake oozing charisma and assurance as Flora - also a particular standout performer in the vocal performances. McGonagle and Blakeley are a pure delight and have great comedic timing.
Laura Ann Price's design is impressive, with a stagnant set that is utilised well. Lifts for Maleficent's entrances and exits are initially exciting, as well as the use of flight in the show, but it does tend to feel a little overused. Pyrotechnics and lighting design (Charly Dunford) do a great job of keeping the piece visually exciting. Costume design embodies the colourfulness of Panto, a shoutout must be given to the clever quick costume changes as Aurora chooses a wedding dress.
There's a great selection of songs from Cher, to the Eurythmics, to Taylor Swift that mostly do fit into the plot. However, they do sometimes feel a little shoe-horned in and repetitive. Whilst the cast, overall, do perform these songs well - with a particular shout out to both Drake and Lister for incredibly soulful voices - there were moments in which there were issues with pitch and harmonies did not always hit their mark.
Accessibility and diversity has been widely considered in this production, which is truly admirable and allows a wide range of audiences to feel welcomed at this theatre. With all performances having captions, a racially diverse cast who interweave their own languages into the songs, and with LGBTQIA relationships being the norm and widely accepted, this production must be commended for their ability to seamlessly allow acceptance and belonging to be at the forefront.
Regardless, this review should not discourage you. If you're looking for a show that brings joy and warmth over the festive period, then this is an absolute must watch. There's plenty of gags, audience participation and the incredible talent of the cast more than makes a visit to the Storyhouse in Chester worthwhile.
Sleeping Beauty runs at the Storyhouse in Chester until 29th December.
★★★☆☆ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark McNulty
