Disocver how critics have been reacting to Sean Holmes’ production of the new musical by Charlie Josephine and Jim Fortune
WhatsOnStage: ***** “Pinocchio is an uplifting, witty and beautifully realised production. A perfect family show for any time of year… and that is no lie.”
The Guardian: *** “Under Sean Holmes’s meticulous direction, the 14-strong cast bring full-tilt fun to the villains and helpers Pinocchio meets along the way. Kerry Frampton and Lucy McCormick are deliciously dastardly as Fox and Cat, who leave him penniless, hanging by his foot in a tree, but Steven Webb is the standout as campy Giacomo Cricket and the terrifying, kidnapping Coachman.”
Theatre & Tonic: ***** “A standout element of the show for me was Steven Webb’s characters, Giacomo Cricket and later the Coachman. He gives the Cricket a wonderfully camp energy before shifting into a genuinely unsettling presence as the Coachman, reminiscent of the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In true Globe style, the performance spills into the audience, and at one point he even weaves through the standing crowd. Watching from above was hilarious, especially as parents gently lifted startled children out of his path.”
London Theatre.co.uk: *** “It helps that Globe associate director Sean Holmes’s production has an irresistible homespun charm, augmented by Grace Smart’s clever and colourful toy theatre-esque design. It’s just so wonderfully real, unlike the poor titular character himself, who nevertheless proves the standout, skilfully handled by three puppeteers including Lee Braithwaite, who voices him with convincing childish enthusiasm. There’s something about seeing our most famous wooden character being brought to life in this oak-filled arena that just feels right.”
All That Dazzles: **** “A fantastic addition to the legacy of this character and a great new alternative for families this Christmas, stepping foot into Shakespeare’s Globe can be a magical and enlightening experience in itself, but the magic of this story and the creativity that has been carved out in this production make for an even more wondrous adventure. It’s not just Pinocchio that (spoiler alert) comes to life; this entire show is bursting with it in a dream of a production that is sure to be a hot ticket and a real buy this Christmas.”
British Theatre Guide: “Sean Holmes’s production encourages each moment to blossom in its own way but always with energy, drawing on a vibrancy that makes a powerful impact and a cast of just fifteen seems much larger.”
The Reviews Hub: **** 1/2 “Pinocchio is a big-hearted theatrical spectacle that turns the famous wooden fairy tale into a great night out.”
The Telegraph: **** “The timeless tale of a mischievous boy puppet gets a splendid overhaul in this musical version at Shakespeare’s Globe.”
The Standard: **** “And in the end, this show is for the children, and the gaggle accompanying the Standard absolutely loved the puppet, loved screaming at the Coachman and laughed throughout. Did they learn anything? No. Which made it even better, as far as they were concerned. A solid four stars from the little people.”
West End Best Friend: **** “Pinocchio is a magical family show offering plenty of festive charm, musical groove, and imagination. Even with some structural and tonal imbalances, it remains an enjoyable and lively retelling of a classic story, injecting it with new meaning. It is surely a very enchanting experience for both children and adults.”
The Independent: **** “Forget pantos, this thoughtfully staged production of the puppet who came to life is a wonderful festive treat.”
The Upcoming: ***** “The above is just a few splinters of this enchanting show. The ensemble remains energetically comedic throughout; the creative stagecraft and choreography surprise when realising improbable story scenes on-stage; and some of the tunes in the vaudevillian-style score are very catchy (Act One’s finale tune Money Matters has the audience humming into the interval). Best of all, the modest pit area is probably the best view in the whole house. If audiences can’t splash a fortune on the London Palladium’s Christmas panto, this new musical is a wonderful and, dare this reviewer say, superior alternative. The joyous magic in this production not only brings the wooden boy to life, but London’s famous “wooden O” as well.”
Broadway World: ***** “Directed with clarity and imagination by Sean Holmes Pinocchio feels both familiar and refreshingly new, touching visually spectacular and musically rich. Above all it is a celebration of love, resilience and the many forms family can take. This is a special production crafted with immense care and creativity, offering a truly magical festive experience for audiences young and old.”
Pinocchio continues to play at Shakespeare’s Globe until the 4th January 2026.