OUR VERDICT

★★★★★

A press report in 1846 said “Pantomime is no longer what it used to be. They have had their day.”

Tell that to the audience watching, booing and hooraying at last night’s performance of ‘King Arthur in Space’ at Hampton Hill Theatre.

Hold on, King Arthur? Space? Where’s a panto in that? Right there, my friend.

Joe Stockwell

A bearded Mrs Morgan, top baddie, set the scene and our expectations from the start. The hissing and booing took off as the director, Marc Batten and writer, Loz Keal, would have wanted and the children joined in brilliantly.

Yes, this is perfect for adults as well as kids.

This may be a different setting to the usual fairytale-themed panto, but well-known lines from space-themed films and TV shows will appeal to all ages, as will the adult humour, and of course, the corny jokes.

The song and dance routines are energetic and impressive with the voice of Jessica Hunt as Gwen and the dancing of Kelly-Marie Tuthill as A-vow-ma being outstanding.

The baddies deserve every boo, being alternately daft and dastardly, and lovable Lance is a perfect bashful central character, played well by Nicky Shaw, who clearly enjoyed every minute of the role.

Arthur, tall, imposing, with no sense of direction and ever so shy with the ladies, is the perfect anti-hero, with Scott Tilley embracing the title role.

If you think you’ll miss the usual Disney princesses, don’t worry, they’re not far away, having a ball on Boogie Woogie Planet, and the onboard computer Merlin, aka Hannah Lobley, pops up in unexpected places on the spaceship, which itself needs a special mention.

Joe Stockwell

Equipped with everything a self-respecting spaceship would need for space travel…old computer monitors…a Tardis…a scooter…lots and lots of tinsel…there’s lots to see if you can take your eyes off the main act. Soft toys and puppets participate in the musical action, albeit in the background - my favourite, the swooning frog after a kiss from Snow White.

If you are looking for a show to warm your cockles and to take you out of this world, hitch a ride with King Arthur and his crew, and remember, on this occasion, parents need not be accompanied by children.

7-14 December;19.30 pm, Hampton Hill Theatre (book here)