Surrey

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57636" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-219-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



I got&nbsp;insanely&nbsp;drunk on my 18th birthday but&nbsp;Princess Aurora&nbsp;pricked her finger on a spinning wheel and fell into a deep sleep. Bummer!



Princesses and pricks. It can mean only one thing, right?! Oh yes it does! 



Panto is back in our theatres, and this year at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking we&#8217;re cheering and jeering on <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sleeping-beauty/new-victoria-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleeping Beauty</a>. Will she defeat the evil Sorceress? Will love conquer all? You know the drill&#8230; &#8220;Oh yes&#8230;&#8221;



In Woking, the panto motto is undeniably &#8216;more is more &#8230; is more&#8217;. And this year it&#8217;s no different.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57641" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-493-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



Step up our panto dream team &#8211; showbiz legend Christopher Biggins, pop star Faye Tozer and magician-turned-puppeteer Richard Cadell, who also happens to be best buds with Sooty, Sweep and Sue. Add a giant animatronic smoke-breathing dragon and an actual flying helicopter and you&#8217;ve got yourself one hell of a show.



Sleeping Beauty is as a highly professional panto packed with magic, music, comedy and special effects. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57630" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-008-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Christopher Biggins as The Spirit of Dreams. Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



It starts strong. The curtain goes up&#8230; and down comes a sequin-clad Christopher Biggins perched up high on a silver moon. He&#8217;s playing The Spirit of Dreams &#8211; an oracle-come-storyteller &#8211; and this floating moon is where he&#8217;ll be for most of the show (save for a silly skit where the sequins come off, literally &#8211; more on those later).



Below him the talented ensemble are belting out lines to the fuzz-rock anthem Spirit in the Sky. We&#8217;re off to a good start!



If you&#8217;re a bit foggy on the Sleeping Beauty storyline, here&#8217;s a quick recap. We&#8217;ve got a the eternally lovable Princess Aurora (Rhiane Drummond) who&#8217;s been cursed by the evil Sorceress Carabosse (Tozer) to die on her 18th birthday via a finger prick from a spinning wheel. Grim news! 



But wait, a handsome prince &#8211; aka Prince William of Westfield (Will Richardson) can save the day and the princess with true love&#8217;s first kiss. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57639" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-378-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">James Patterson as King Kenneth and Brenda Longman as his Queen Constance. Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



Aurora&#8217;s proud parents are here too &#8211; a bumbling King Kenneth (James Paterson) and Queen Constance (Brenda Longman) &#8211; who&#8217;ve done their best to keep their daughter away from pricks. If they can only get Princess Aurora to the age of 18 when she&#8217;ll be come the Queen of the Kingdom.



Richard Cadell is Muddles, the Royal magician, and after a grand entrance on a Harley Davidson, he keeps thing rollicking along at a jaunty pace spinning out witty one-liners, ad-libbing to perfection and engaging with the audience brilliantly. (Ken and Sharon, you&#8217;re both great sports!).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57632" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-077-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Muddles the Royal Magician, aka Richard Cadell, and Sooty. Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



Sooty, Sweep and Sue play a starring role, and there are magic tricks. They&#8217;re proper magic tricks, too. Tricks that will have you scratching your head in wonder. All very slick.



Sleeping Beauty is a show that will particularly appeal to adults. A lot of the gags fly high above the children&#8217;s heads (I hope!), as will the majority of cultural references. How many eight-year-olds have heard of Steps? But there are plenty of fart jokes to keep the kids chortling along, too. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57635" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-160-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Faye Tozer plays a fabulous Carabosse. Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



Faye Tozer is officially my new girl crush. She&#8217;s is a delectably glamorous and chillingly wicked Carabosse &#8211; with a fabulous cackle. It&#8217;s a bit of a tragedy (I know, sorry!) that we don&#8217;t hear more of her vocals. It&#8217;s not until Act 2 that she delivers her first song&#8230; and then only again once more for the finale. 



Prince William though treats us to a couple of belters, as does Princess Aurora &#8211; including a medley of Christmas songs that brings a very festive vibe with the super-talented dancers high-kicking and spinning against a beautiful snowy backdrop. In fact, all the dance routines are epic.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57640" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-384-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hello handsome! Prince William of Westfield played by Will Richardson. Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



Throughout the show, the &#8216;more is more&#8217; motto resurfaces again with the costumes which are nothing short of magnificent. Think feathers and fur, velvet tulle, and more sequins than you&#8217;ll ever see on Strictly.



The usual panto antics were also in attendance &#8211; a funny variation on the “Twelve Days of Christmas” routine&nbsp;&#8211; very well done by Carabosse, Prince William, King Kenneth and Muddles. Prince William&#8217;s chef moves &#8216;flipping&#8217; pancakes were well suggestive. 



Christopher Biggins tries to get involved in this skit too &#8211; more than once. And at first I thought he was missing his queue. Although I think it was all part of the slapstick &#8211; I think! &#8211; and that includes the part where he comes out only partially dressed.



Sleeping Beauty is a pro operation with all the glitz and glamour we&#8217;ve come to expect from a panto production at Woking &#8211; including a live orchestra. But it’s also a classic pantomime in all its silly tradition. All in all this is a guaranteed fun and festive night out. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2.jpg" alt="Sleeping Beauty pantomime starring Chritopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Richard Cadell and Sotty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-57631" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/12/sleeping-beauty-woking-2024-photo-credit-ian-olsson-050-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Ian Olsson</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



Good for: Families, of course, and kids of all ages. But adults particularly will love this panto, especially those who don’t mind a risqué rib-tickler or two.



Not for: Super tinies who won&#8217;t last the 2 hours duration.



<a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sleeping-beauty/new-victoria-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleeping Beauty</a> is at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking until Sunday 5 January.

Panto review: Sleeping Beauty at New Victoria Theatre, Woking

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