Manchester opera house - Jack and the Beanstalk

So yesterday with there being no Cup game me the guvnor and girls went fo Manchester for the day, Christmas market, bite to eat then onto the theatre……..it’s the first time I’ve been for well over 25 year so didn’t have a clue what to expect, firstly, the venue is absolutely unbelievable, I was amazed at how good the actual theatre was but the show was probably one of the best things I’ve been to, the lead character is played by Jason Mansford and he was superb, the play had plenty of adult humour without it being unsuitable for younger ears, not that they would’ve got it…….the 3 main characters we’re very funny the whole way through with a bit of crowd participation at various stages, it was that good even my eldest moody 16 year enjoyed it!!!

If you’re after doing something this Christmas with the family or even as a couple I would highly highly recommend it, we sat in the circle seats so we’re well priced with a great view.

It really kicked the festive month off in a great way!

 

It's quite clever how they get the script to appeal both to children and to adults. As you say,most of the double entendres will go over the kids' heads anyway,but at least it makes it a bit entertaining for the grown ups as well as the kids

 

We come out laughing our heads off, a never thought Sunday morning I’d be bigging up a theatre night

A might go full time theatre buff n sack football, at least a wint be cold in winter

 

Pantos are great fun for all the family,

But you don’t need to go to Manchester… many Panto’s on our own doorstep. Lamproom, Montgomery hall in Wath, Dearne playhouse, academy theatre Birdwell… and then there’s Dee dar land and wakey…

 

Remember seeing Alan Fletcher (aka Karl Kennedy) as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Lyceum. Two hours of absolute smut coming out of his mouth, but the kids didn't have a clue! Used to go and see Bobby Knutt at the Crucible as a kid. I have no idea whether he turned on the blue humour but I'm assuming he did.

 

Civic is doing one this year and the lamproom allus does.

 

A wouldn’t mind going to civic tbh

 

He's behind you.....

oooooh, no he isn't.....

 

Her first role and she’s sharing a stage with Bruce Willis? Impressive!

 

you can't beat a live performance -
as for children not understanding adult humour ????? - recall going to a pantomime some years ago and that evening at home listening to the youngsters re-telling some of the 'adult jokes' - they'd understood a lot more than we gave them credit for!
Going to see the ballet 'The Nutcracker' at Sheffield Lyceum in January - if you go to the Lyceum and are taller than 5 ft avoid the Balcony - cramped seats!

 

Go to our local panto at the Royal Court - usually has a Scouse twist to it - really good night. It always stars Andrew Schofield who played Scully - brilliant actor. Saw his recently in Boys from The Blackstuff

 

B

Billy Pearce is brilliant at Bradford too.

 

Oh no she's not

 

We always go to the Lyceum one. Damien Williams, who plays the dame, is the best in the business. He’s not the John Inman/Christopher Biggins type of dame, but plays it more like Tommy Cooper. I think this is his 13th year. Our first one after moving back to Barnsley was his first one, and Knutty’s last one. The next year they had Toby Foster as the comic and Knutty played the magic mirror, which was a pre-recorded part (the next time Snow White came around, Michael Palin played the magic mirror). Foster, whilst a great comedian, didn’t really suit the world of panto, and the producers realised that with Williams in the cast they didn’t need another comic.

They’ve had some pretty good guest villains over the years too, with Phil Daniels and Nigel Planer being but two of them. The last panto we saw at the Lyceum, however, was a touring panto a couple of months after Christmas. That one starred John Bishop and as the dame, Sir Ian McKellen! We also took the kids to the Chuckle Brothers’ touring panto, where we made the mistake of sitting on the front row. I took a custard pie in the face, courtesy of Paul Chuckle, which is a decent claim to fame. I think every kid from Springvale school must have been in the audience that day, as for weeks afterwards I had kids coming up to me in the playground telling me how funny it was when I walked the kids to school.

But we’re looking forward to this year’s panto, as it’s Beauty and the Beast which they’ve not done before. We always go just before Christmas, so the panto is the kickstart of Christmas for us. My kids are now 18 and 13, but we’ll keep going to it as long as Williams is in the cast. The Lyceum will have a big problem when Williams hangs up his frock, as I imagine a sizeable chunk of the audience will see that as the point to call it a day too.