(Brighton &) Hove Grown 2026
Oustanding Adult Panto Performance
The Official Brighton Alternative Pantomime
Genre: Cabaret, Comedy, Fringe Theatre, LGBT Theatre, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ Theatre, LGBTQI, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, Queer Comedy, Queer Theatre
Venue: Ironworks Studio-Brighton
Festival: (Brighton &) Hove Grown, Brighton Fringe
Low Down
Brighton Adult pantomimes have become a popular annual event on the LGBTQ scene -and this stylish and well crafted production sets the benchmark high in quality and all round adult entertainment.
Review
The future of the Brighton adult pantomime – a tradition reaching back to the nineteen nineties (and probably before) is assuredly safe-in the hands of this A1 team!
There isn’t a weak link in this production -from Direction, set and costume design, to musical direction and choreography-this is a top-notch professional collaboration-and the standing ovation re -action from a packed first night audience corroborated that.
The Ironworks is not an easy venue to present a genre that is traditionally full of spectacle, highly visual and played at an extremely fast pace-but we as an audience are totally unaware of the logistics- due to a superb set design and very tight and carefully planned direction in the hands of Paul Laurence Thomas.
Likewise-the musical content and its delivery is expertly handled by Shaz D (Md and keyboards) and Tom Earl (Percussion)-sympathetically accompanying the performers and producing a full musical theatre experience- never becoming overbearing or overshadowing.
What makes this production so unique -is that every one of the casts is a solo performer on the cabaret circuit in their own right- and their consummate skill produces a highly skilled and versatile ensemble- which blends to perfection and never upstages fellow cast members.
As Fairy Beau Bells- Jason Lee sets the benchmark high at the top of the show -expertly handling and encouraging the audience in the time-honoured panto shout outs. His multi casting as Captain and Sultan are equally executed with style and panache.
Fellow Immortal – Queen Rat was in the expert hands of veteran Rose Garden- carefully balancing villainy and comedy and looking stunning in a beautiful skin tight outfit.
How wonderful to see a traditional principal boy – a h’omage to the time-honoured gender reversal in panto-sadly missing in the majority of UK pantomimes these days. Sam Solace is in fine voice and her solo numbers are undoubtedly a highlight of the show.
And a traditional dame -played with warmth, double entendre and a matronly charm was delivered expertly by Baroness Mary Gold- as superb as she was in last year’s “Jack and the Beanstalk” – in a fine collection of stunning dame attire.
David Pollikett gives yet another wryly dry yet hysterical portrayal of another humoresque animal -this time Pussy the cat -invoking cheers at every entrance and giving a welcome touch of gravitas to the ensuing mayhem.
Sandra, likewise repeats a delightfully dextrous and buxom portrayal of principal girl -as Alice Fitzanyone- playfully skipping around the stage in an equally hysterical set of outfits.
But what steals the show and puts this production firmly on the top ladder is the dancing and choreography. Both Mary O’ Kart and Lovinia Belle play drag queen rats scratch and sniff with the consummate skill of ugly sisters -but then prove their triple threat versatility in all of the company numbers. They are joined by two superb up and coming dancers in Anthony Kirk (Salty)and Max Conway( Sandy)- who play every other ensemble role with an infectious energy and a cheeky wink – in whatever outfit they have a quick change into.
It is rare to see such a high standard of choreography in such a small cast – but the stage is alive with west end standard dancing and singing.
There is everything one could possibly wish for -with traditional routines-including a ghost gag and particularly the riotous “if I were not in pantomime” – including the majority of the cast.
I gather the show may be sold out already -but if you are able to grab a remaining ticket – you won’t be disappointed and this gem of a show will leave you chuckling at the memory for days,
Producer Alan Cardew has given Brighton a gift of a production and assembled a team that will hopefully provide a regular “source of innocent merriment” for many years to come.
