Shall We Book the Ball?

For years, Panto was the cornerstone of our family Christmas. Him indoors (G) would heroically snag last-minute tickets, landing us in the gods, where we’d crane our necks and still bask in the magic. The girls would dress up, completing their sparkling outfits with their “fee-atur coats,” and off we’d go—tradition in its finest form.

Then came The Duchess. A friend with military-grade planning skills, she turned our modest outing into a grand affair: prime seats, pre-show pizza, and a festive entourage of familiar faces. It was Christmas, dialled up to 11.

But then life happened. Covid struck, the King’s Theatre closed, and the loss of Andy Gray left a hole in Panto season. The girls grew up, plans scattered, and our beloved outings quietly slipped into memory. Yet every November, G would ask, “Shall I book tickets?” And every year, by the time we’d compared diaries it was too late. (My perimenopausal vertigo and diminishing eyesight don’t mix well with nosebleed seats). His disappointment lingered like a forgotten bauble after Twelfth Night.

So, when the chance came to see Cinderella at its press preview, I knew who deserved the seat beside me. It was time to take G back to the Panto he’d been missing, restore one of his favourite Christmas traditions —and what a night it was.

This year’s Cinderella, temporarily staged at the Festival Theatre, is everything Panto dreams are made of: dazzling costumes, razor-sharp one-liners, and performances that leave your cheeks aching from laughter. Allan Stewart, Grant Stott, and Jordan Young brought the house down, delivering a masterclass in comedy. And Cinders herself? A picture of grace, wit, and charm, holding her own against her wicked stepsisters in a story that sparkled as brightly as her pink Doc Martens.

Watching G beside me, giggling at the gags he’s loved for years, felt like rediscovering the Christmas magic we’d been missing. It might not revive our old family tradition, but for one wonderful night, the past and present met under a glittering spotlight.

So, shall you book the ball? Don’t even hesitate (Book Here). Gather your loved ones and revel in the festive joy that only a Panto can bring. Keep your eyes peeled for a Hollywood-worthy carriage scene and the singalong dedicated to Fort Kinnaird had us crying with laughter. 

And if you’re smart, channel The Duchess—plan ahead for next year’s Jack and the Beanstalk. Featuring Allan Stewart, Grant Stott, and Jordan Young, it promises to be the GIANT of a Panto we’ve all BEAN waiting for!

Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk go on sale from 11am, Monday 9 December 2024. Don’t miss out—Christmas magic awaits!