Always a joy to watch Birmingham Youth Theatre and I have become a regular at their wonderful pantomimes over the past few years. This time it was Snow White, and the fun and talent were there for all to see. Adapted by Adam Swift and Paul Delaney from an original script from the talented Joe Logan, this version had a twist at the end which I totally approved of in terms of who Snow ended up with. So much better than the cliched endings that most have with heroines being rescued by the male prince (Ugh!). I also loved the dark humour which crept in at places, particularly the dance featuring the dead creature killed seconds before. Only now being propped up by two live ones. Oh yes, we love off the wall ideas.

Under the musical direction of Chris Corcoran, there were some great numbers delivered well by all the cast, and what better opening song to have than Mr Blue Sky, because you can’t beat a bit of ELO. Others which I loved included Don’t Stop Me Now, You and Me (But Mostly Me) and Dance the Night, but my personal favourite was the powerful end to Act One and Someone Gets Hurt. Then, a panto always needs a good finale and that was achieved with We Are Family. And you got the feeling that meant something to the cast, because societies like BYT are more than simply a means to putting on productions, they are a family, and it shows.

In the role of Snow White was the excellent Sharouq Al Saffar who was supported well by the comic lynchpin in Muddles, played by Gethin Renderson. On the Darkside, though, there were some memorable performances by Casey Michaela (Lucrecia), Sophie Ashford (Mirror) and the especially convincing Joseph Taylor as Fleshcreep. Also strong in the principals were Edgar Shirley (Prince), Daisy Wright (Sally), Evelyn Palmer (Narrator), Ava Parker (Little Snow), Alexander Lee (Billy), Alfie Phelan (Bobby), Freya Baylis (Youngster), Megan Allsop (Queen), plus Sophie Terry and Lucy Jones (Guards).

And then there be Dwarfs, played with fun and sensitivity by Amelia Rosado (Mopey), Bobby Hayward (Sloppy), Finlay Hall (Wheezy, complete with inhaler), George Beckett (Gok), Jessie Butler (Trumpy, with the inbuilt secret weapon), Talia Hockley (Cashful) and Maddy Sykes (“That’s so sad!” – Weepy). But we also had the dwarf Mums. These were Hannah Ashford, Anna O’Hara-Green, Martha McGrath, Ava Jones, Elizabeth Soffe, Georgie Dunn and Livvy Owen. Completing the Dance Troupe and Ensemble was Amelia Soffe, Amy Flanagan, Charlotte Foxhall, Eden Blayney, Erin Haran-Lewis, Grace Kelly-Vernon, Cerys Worthington, Ena Moreton, Oonagh Williamson, Ariana Rahman, Breah Grimley, Edina Bilham-Moore, Eva Campbell, Niamh McKeon, Shire Clarke, Sophia Chilton, Tayla Clarke, Thomas Harmon and Tiffany Clarke. Please tell me if I have mistakenly missed anyone.

I must applaud all the fabulous costumes, particularly for the two dames who were respectfully represented in this age of trans awareness. Choreography was by Emily Bullingham and Lydia Rose Hackett with the latter also directing this entertaining show. I must also commend an excellent Front of House, and it was nice to be invited to the Green Room during the break and catch up with some familiar faces.

Birmingham Youth Theatre return to The Crescent in July with Footloose. I highly recommend you get tickets.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt

*Photos taken from social media: Paul Goode Photography.