Whilst January isn't normally the season for a pantomime, I truly feel that it brings light and laughter to those cold, dreary days. Highcliffe Charity Players have delighted local Dorset audiences since the 70's and their pantomime has become one of the highlights of the calendar year after year. 

Filled with local performers that showcase some of the best talent in the area, this years offering was no exception. Goldilocks and the Three Bears will take you on a whistle-stop adventure through the woods to the circus to entertain and entrance audiences young and old.  

The show opens with an introduction to Ringmaster Heinkel (Jade Morrell) who along with her henchman Snot (Paul Barrington) are adamant that they will take down local circus' to become the most powerful show in town. When Mystic Sharon (Georgie Carter) discovers this, she uses her all seeing powers to help Dame Gertie Dollop (Malcom Young) and her son Silly Billy (Harry Young) save the circus that they own and love. With the help of Billy's friend Goldilocks (Laila Judge) and some talking bears, havoc ensues and it's a challenge to ensure that the good win in the end so that everything is just right. 

With a cast of incredible local talent, it's easy to see why the show was near enough sold out for it's entire run. The voices of the principal cast left us sitting there wondering why these talented actors weren't treading the boards of the west end. Similarly, the dancing of the company choreographed by Shannon Cook was brilliant with a special nod to Baby Bear played by Travis Bussell who's breakdancing baby bear was an audience highlight!

The show follows the typical pantomime tropes, with jokes woven throughout the tale. Many of which are kid friendly, along with the more mature ones that go over the kid's heads! It was the perfect blend of hilarity and story, hitting that pantomime sweet spot and winning over young and old. I loved the on stage relationship between Billy and Gertie, both Harry and Malcom showing that there is a fine art to on stage hilarity and they nailed it. Not to mention the villainous Ringmaster, where Jade truly lent into the evil nature of the character to convince everyone she was truly evil.  

Laila won the audience over as the sweet and innocent Goldilocks, and the scene where she meet the three bears (played by Travil Bussell, Barry Gray, and Louise King) was truly a fairy tale come to life. I loved Louise's rendition of Mummy Bear, with her Scottish accent and Lady Marmalade dancing. Completing the cast was an ensemble of local performers and children. All of whom looked to be having the best time on stage. Was it a panto, or was it a party? We will never know! But they all had huge smiles on their faces from curtains up to final bows. 

I absolutely love a pantomime. Nothing is more quintesential British theatre than a panto, and seeing and hearing the audience laugh, shout, and interact throughout the show leaves the biggest smile on my face. The musical direction from Stuart Darling had everyone dancing in their seats (an in the aisles when permitted too!). It's hard to nail a practically perfect panto, one that ticks all the boxes and wows audiences without taking itself too seriously, but Highcliffe Charity Players seem to do things just right every single time. 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is running at the Regent Centre, Christchurch for the weekend of 24-26th January. Next years show will be Aladdin, running over Easter, which you won't want to miss!