Theatr Clwyd in Mold is undergoing a transformational refurbishment and is a building site this Christmas with a temporary venue alongside but for their annual pantomime, they have erected a Big Top next door to both with large tent as foyer and toilets and even on a cold and wet winter evening, the venue is surprisingly comfortable. The staging in the Big Top presents fresh challenges to the production team with its large square stage with metal tent poles in each corner and a high raised platform, with the main stage entrance beneath to provide some variation in height. There is a static castle wall and gate to back each scene with a mobile raised dais, which glides smoothly to centre stage, and being used to deliver key props. The physical stage inevitably defines the flow and blocking of the show, although surprisingly there is no attempt to incorporate circus skills into the show which might have provided some magical elements.

Instead, we are treated to very high energy intensive rock and roll musical storytelling, with talented actor musicians striding and dancing around the stage with guitars and saxophones in hand, and set piece comedy routines led by the amazing local Welsh Dame Phylip Harries in his twentieth year at the venue. He is in charge from his first appearance on a motorised pink elephant and appeared to know many familiar faces in the audience so easily integrated them into the show. The usual ‘12 Days of Christmas’ is given a very fresh feel with each item being given to members of the audience to draw them in, giving it an immersive mad cap feel; so much more appealing than the usual familiar routine.

The other classic routine of ‘Shirley Shaw Sits and Shines’ is less successful with its frantic delivery, and their backs to the some of the audience mean it is hard to hear every word which rather defeats the point of the tongue twister. His film DVD pun run is assisted by three sets of pictures so each side can see the image to get the joke, which does add the opportunity for reactions from his assistants but still slightly lessens the impact of playing it straight to the audience.

The acoustics of the Big Top are far from perfect and combined with a third of the time looking at performers’ backs and the local Welsh accents means that it is very hard to tune into every word that is spoken and sung. It did appear that some performers compensated by shouting into the microphones which made the overall sound balance unclear, especially when sat to the side of the stage rather than front on. This detracts hugely to the extraordinary efforts of the cast to entertain and story tell.

Curiously, Christian Patterson’s script dispenses with a Prince character, the traditional love interest of Beauty and her saviour, not to save cast cost as it included two villain assistants Snarl and Fang as sort of robotic animals, so the narrative focuses on the battle between the three good fairies and the three villains with Beauty and her father trapped in the middle. The pram introduction of Beauty (played by Emma Kinney) is very well done and she is featured throughout on guitar. Her father, Dan Bottomley, also regularly leads the rock guitar with a strong stage presence.

The music dominates the show with good renditions of ‘Celebration’, ‘We Are Friends’, ‘Need Somebody’, ‘Raining Taco’s’, ‘Babooshka’, ‘Bad’ and ‘Prince Charming’ creating a party atmosphere and at times, the look and feel of a drug fuelled trip to a rock concert with the bizarrely dressed characters bashing out the rock anthems. It certainly lives up to its rock and roll pantomime billing.

It was wonderful to see this full tent enjoying a Christmas night out with an adoring Phylip Harries fan club reacting to his every gesture but the pantomime genre did not convert easily to the Big Top setting, not helped by the acoustics, so we must wait until next year when the main house reopens to see this team return to top form. In the meantime, if you live in North Wales and are looking for a fun, lively night out to celebrate with friends, this musical extravaganza will provide an entertaining trip out.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

Sleeping Beauty - The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto plays at Theatr Clwyd until 6 January 2024, with further information here.