Pinocchio
Pinocchio
Friday 2 December 2022 until Sunday 8 January 2023
BOOK PANTO TICKETS HERE
Pinocchio, the enchanting story of the little wooden puppet who dreams of being a real boy, is next in line to be given the Richmond pantomime treatment. Expect the traditional story and characters but with plenty of quirky twists and turns. There will also be the usual laugh-out-loud comedy, amazing musical routines and stunning special effects.
The Georgian Theatre Royal has been producing its own professional pantomimes since 2010 and in that time has built up a reputation for staging one of the best Christmas shows around. Sleeping Beauty was chosen by The Observer as one of its top festive shows of 2018, and in 2015, The Telegraph named us as the No.1 place to see a pantomime in the UK. For many families, pantomime at the Georgian is a key part of their festive celebrations and the show appeals to all generations.
Sophie Campbell, travel writer for The Telegraph, summed up the unique Richmond experience when she reviewed the 2021 production of Beauty and the Beast:
“One of the charms of pantomime, that great British tradition of knockabout Christmas entertainment, is its sheer variety. You can see panto in a village hall, starring Am Dram actors and local kids, or you can see a full-on show in a West End theatre with a celebrity Dame, traditional transformation scene and full professional cast.
What makes the Georgian Theatre Royal's annual panto so delightful is that it's about halfway between the two. The theatre has survived, miraculously, for over 230 years, in the handsome little town of Richmond, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. It's warm, friendly, full of local allusions, place names and current affairs that get an instant reaction from the audience.”
OTHER REVIEWS OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
“Charming and full of festive cheer, Beauty and the Beast contains all the key ingredients for panto: magic, love, heroics, and perhaps most importantly: Tunnock’s tea cakes!”
Danni Manning – Darlington & Stockton Times
“This tiny theatre always manages to triumph when it comes to production values and this year’s show is no exception.”
Laurence Sach – Northern Echo
“Beauty and the Beast – a metaphor of our times, of Richmond Town, its castle, its people and its most delightful little theatre doing its own thing!”
Helen Brown – British Theatre Guide
“This is a panto, which has a completely different feel to every other panto. After a couple of hours in the theatre, you feel you’ve made a new group of friends.”
Andrew Harrison – Teesdale Mercury
“I think Beauty and the Beast is my favourite yet, and not just because my bum didn’t hurt after ten minutes thanks to the new padded seating.”
Joe Willis – Richmondshire Today
“This is a panto for all ages, with jokes for the grown-ups and plenty of silly fun for younger members of the audience.”
Ashley Barnard – Northern Echo
“A Perfect night for Christmas cheer, with a mix of great comedy, delightful singing, colourful costumes and there might even be a Tunnock’s tea cake available.”
North East Theatre
Past pantomime video archive
The transformation scene from Cinderella (2013)