REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast has the wow factor!

Wow … just wow! Beauty and the Beast is a triumph from start to finish.

The Hexagon’s 2025 pantomime, staged by Imagine Theatre, has once again raised the bar for family-friendly entertainment. It’s a festive treat for audiences of all ages, packed with energetic dance routines, brilliant songs, corny jokes, incredible costumes and a jaw-dropping set.

Pantomime has a rich tradition, has always moved with the times, and respected its past. It’s the original something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue in that some of the gags are so old they’ve grown a beard, some of the set pieces are new, some are familiar if you’ve been watching telly, and … well, thankfully this show is family friendly so you’ve no real need to worry about the last bit.

This is thanks to the skill of scriptwriter and star Justin Fletcher. He knows exactly how to tailor the jokes to appeal to family audiences, and they include the whole gamut of puns, visual gags, and deft one-liners.

You can see how much fun the cast is having as they share laughs with the audience.

Over the past few years, Imagine has built up an ensemble cast, and many familiar faces are taking on new roles for Beauty and the Beast, while there are also some newcomers.

It’s a delight to see Justin paired once again with Paul Morse: this year, they are Arthur Pint and the landlady of the Just Inn, respectively.

Their formidable double act continues to shine: Reading’s very own Morecambe and Wise, they know how to get the best out of each other and create mirth and mayhem galore.

They are just a delight to watch, especially during their set pieces – one of which makes a very, very welcome return. Not only is the auditorium in stitches, but both Paul and Justin are visibly struggling to contain their poker faces. Splendid stuff, and one hopes they will continue to return for many years to come.

Their messy slosh scene has been given its own upgrade; in turn, the changes make it feel … cleaner. A bit more mess would have been welcomed, but this may be a consequence of the digital set: the chances of this set piece being the old ‘plumbing gone wrong in the bathroom’ routine – where water goes everywhere – are minimal, just in case the electrics go funny.

The second returning double act is equally welcome: Carl Tracey plays Hunky Dory the village poser, while Adam Pettigrew is his loyal friend Smudge. Both pitch their roles perfectly and play exquisitely off each other.

They team up with Paul and Justin for a set-piece comedy song that includes very, very tight coreography: get one move wrong and a new career outside of pantomime awaits. It understandly brings the house down. The youngsters sitting in front of use were joyfully giggling, clapping and joining in the fun, delighted when the water pistols came out.

They were just as thrilled when our heroes stopped in the spooky forest for a singalong to Ghostbusters, and agog with the closing number to the first act. A sneaky refererance to 6-7 was lapped up, and they were on their phones to friends so they could share the joy of the big dancealong finale. Wonderful!

The final returning cast member is Samantha Dorrance, who played Cinderella last year, returns as our heroine, Belle. She sparkles and shines making us root for her. Her grand entrance on her return to the castle is just one spectacular moment among many.

Making her Hexagon debut is Eloise Lord as the Enchantress. Familiar to audiences of Six The Musical, she manages to make the sorcerer a magical, enigmatic character while also showcasing her vocal talents.

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Also joining the cast is Ally Cox, who joyfully plays Belle’s mother, and Samuel Knight as the Beast: scary from the moment he opens the door to the Enchantress.

There is another returnee: the digital set. The innovation made its debut for Cinderella last year; this time round it really does help move the action and adventure along, quickly taking us from location to location and in a way that is genuinely thrilling.

As should be expected from an Imagine Theatre pantomime, the Ensemble are excellent: the adults are Bex Allingham, Joseph Bristow, Nico D’Souza, and Helena Ferreira, and they are accompanied by the junior chorus selected from open auditions held in the summer. They all sparkle and shine every time they are on stage.

The songs are a good mixture of familiar and more modern, and with several medleys across the show there are moments for each cast member to shine. Among many great numbers: Justin’s opening number will cheer up fans of Friends missing the show after it was removed from Netflix, while later on Paul gets his own version of Jailhouse Rock.

The show doesn’t sag, even with its two hour-plus runtime. Instead, it bounces along and time flies by, aided by the digital set which minimises the need for pauses in the action.

Indeed, audiences want the party to continue. This is a feast of festive fun, a rip-roaring treat. You won’t want to miss it.

How to get tickets for Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is at The Hexagon Theatre in Reading until Sunday, January 4. For more details, or to book, call the box office on 0118 960 6060, or log on to: www.whatsonreading.com/beautyandthebeast