Find out what is being said about the Hackney Empire’s 2024 pantomime with our review round up…
WhatsOnStage: *** “But there’s nothing drab about the visuals, Pettitt’s dazzling array of backdrops and Tim Mitchell’s ‘turn it up to 11’ lighting combining to retina-popping effect. Hat tips too to Shay Barclay’s West End-worthy choreography and the five-strong band under musical director Alex Maynard, who ensure the numbers sound magnificent. All told, there’s plenty of wholesome festive fun for both regulars and newcomers to enjoy, even if this particular veteran would like to see a bit more spice added to the mixture next year.”
The Telegraph: ***** “Hackney Empire’s 25th panto has a lot to live up to, given the theatre’s supreme form is this arena – and it does not disappoint one jot.”
Theatre & Tonic: *** 1/2 “All in all, the show is a good time for friends and family this holiday season and it delivers what a panto should. It has the dame, all the classic callbacks, silly jokes, and sing alongs. If anything, it is worth seeing for Clive Rowe’s performance alone.”
All That Dazzles: *** “children of all ages filled the seats, and it was lovely to hear grandparents, grandchildren and everyone in between getting into the festive spirit. Even the bar staff were singing along to the obligatory festive playlist as the audience were taking their seats. This is the magic of theatre at this time of year, and even the biggest Scrooge would have his frigid heart melted by the festive glow.”
Time Out: *** “There is, however, a danger to Rowe’s dominance. While it would be fair to say that in his two-odd decades of doing the Hackney panto he has generally been the best thing about it, this year’s Dick Whittington is the first in which there’s the worry that he’s the only thing about it.”
The Spy in the Stalls: **** “This is a campy and silly way to spend an evening, but feels festive and fun. It’s not stuck in the past and is a great night out for the whole family.”
Fairy Powered Productions: **** “The sweet tones of Dick Wittington (Kandaka Moore) cuts through the bluff and bluster that is the pantomime norm. The music and dance throughout is an unexpectedly high quality that you do not always experience in local panto.”
Exeunt Magazine: “Panto is fun. I love it as a form. I love that the audience is a part of the show, I love that we pay tribute to our theatrical heritage, I love that its often people’s first exposure to theatre. I love it for giving me a glimpse of what a world could look like if everything were simpler and the people were kinder, and I hate it for the same reason.”
The Stage: *** “Clive Rowe shines as ever in Hackney Empire’s traditional family pantomime from Will Brenton.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/dick-whittington-and-his-cat