If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. 
If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise.

My annual visit to see the wonderful Birmingham Youth Theatre where their panto offering this year was an absolute delight. The tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey is simple in the extreme. Three bears who live in the woods go for a walk while their porridge is cooling, and they get an unwanted guest. And that is it, even though the most unbelievable thing in this old story is that three bears try to cook porridge and the only thing wrong with it was the temperature. But that’s a side issue. What was more important on this occasion was the quality of the script by local writer, Dave Crump, one of the best I have experienced in a long, long time. Well written, full of side plots and extremely funny with everything progressing at a good pace, expanding the original tale with a villainous ringmaster, love interests and the intrigues of a small town and visiting circus.

However, you still need a good production team to bring a script to life, and I cannot praise highly enough the direction of Ralph Toppin, Musical direction from Chris Corcoran and choreography courtesy of Emily Bullingham. Along with excellent costumes, sound and lighting, all can be immensely proud of the result. However, even a production team will know where the credit really lies, and that is with the cast, and this one was exceptional.

It would be impossible to single out many of the cast better than another because really, this was a complete team effort. Therefore, here they are in full, starting with named principals: Josh Hine (Gorgeous George), Livvy Owen (Goldilocks), Joe Taylor (Nora Bone) who was outstanding and the pick of the crop, Jack Goode (Ivor Blackheart), Lola Swoffer (Mayor Bogsprocket), Gethin Randerson (Colin the Clown), Martha McGrath (Juggling Josephine), George Beckett (Mighty Ravioli), Megan Allsop (Daddy Bear), Sophie Ashford (Mommy Bear), Jessie Butler (Baby Bear), Bobbi Morrison (Lily of the Valley), Daisy Wright (Madame Seyonce), Hannah Ashford (Kelly), Charlotte Foxall (Michelle), Breah Grimley (Chunky the Lion), Shire Clarke (Marjorie) and Alfie Phelan (Thomas). As always, BYT have an excellent Dance Troupe with Sophie Terry, Oonagh Williamson, Lucy Jones, Ena Moreton, Cerys Worthington, and Shorouq Al-Saffar. Then, the rest of the ensemble were Ariana Rahman, Amy Flanagan, Ava Parker, Ava Inoue-Horn, Edina Bilham-Moore, Erin Haran-Lewis, Eva Campbell, Freya Baylis, Grace Kelly-Vernon, Josh Tonkinson, Kendall Owen, Maddy Sykes, Oliver Jenkins, Rosie McHale, Talia Hockley, Tayla Clarke, Thomas Harmon, Finley Hill and Tom Hadley.

This panto also had some cracking musical numbers, my favourite being a pop punk version of Teddy Bear’s Picnic which I was singing for a week after. I also enjoyed Bobbi Morrison’s fantastic rendition of Once Upon a Time and some wonderful harmonies during I’ll Be There for You. And it’s not often I get to hear a bit of Blondie in a panto, but we had a rocking version of One Way or Another. Another song that I enjoyed, in a separate way, was Razzle Dazzle, led by Jessie Butler as Baby Bear, forced to perform against her will, and you really felt the pain of the character which contrasted well with the fun in other areas of the show. Overall, a most enjoyable night out which I will remember for a long time.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt

*Photos courtesy of Birmingham Youth Theatre. And please tell me if I’ve got all the names included and they are all correct. It was one hell of a task … lol.