This year’s pantomime at Eastwood Park Theatre (EPT) offers an enchanting, feel-good ride but you’ll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on the last remaining tickets.
I went along to a morning showing of Beauty and the Beast and found everything you would hope for from a memorable panto performance – plenty of laughs, audience interaction, chances to sing-along and a cast with bags of personality.
Most importantly, however, the show received a massive seal of approval from one of the harshest critics around (the little one I brought along with me), who beamed from start to finish and hasn’t stopped talking about (and trying to re-enact) some of her favourite scenes since.
The 60-show run of the Spillers Pantomimes production began towards the end of last month and continues until December 31.
Chiara Sparkes shines in the lead role of Belle, while Titus Rowe plays the delightfully flamboyant Bouffant Du Quiff.
Jamie Lemmetti brings all of his comedic expertise to the role of Belle’s father Maurice and Matthew McKenna and Jessica Donnelly both charm as the Beast/Prince and La Fou/Fairy respectively.
The whole cast seemed made for their respective roles, so it would be tough to pick a standout, but Aidan MacColl definitely merits a special mention for keeping everyone giggling and smiling throughout with his slew of perfectly-timed gags and likeable personality.
The actor played Buttons last year in Cinderella at Motherwell Theatre for Spillers but has no doubt won-over a host of new fans as Lumiere in his first panto run in Giffnock.
The impressive dancers and lavish scenery and costumes also make this a festive performance not to be missed.
As a testament to the first-class reputation EPT has built up both for its offering in general and its annual panto, there is only one performance before Christmas with tickets left available - tomorrow (Thursday, December 21) at 2pm.
After Christmas, the show’s run resumes on boxing day, with limited ticket availability across most of the remaining performances.
To book click HERE.
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