SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

Darlington Hippodrome

THE Darlington Hippodrome's pantomime this year – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – is packed full of laughter and magic and performed by talented cast who bring the story to life in a way that's both entertaining and enchanting. It's a must-see for families and children of all ages!

The show opens with a grand overture as the curtain rises to reveal a magnificent castle set.

The Northern Echo: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Darlington Hippodrome until Sunday, December 31

The Wicked Queen, played by the hilarious Jenny Ryan of ITV's The Chase, makes her entrance and immediately sets the tone for the evening with her sharp wit and wicked schemes. She's as formidable on stage as she is on ancient Chinese culture, by the way.

Snow White, played by the radiant Marina Lawrence-Mahrra, is a picture of innocence and beauty. She's kind and compassionate, and her love for the seven dwarfs is heartwarming.

The dwarfs themselves are a riotous bunch, with their hilarious antics and catchy songs.

The Northern Echo: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Darlington Hippodrome until Sunday, December 31

Josh Benson as Muddles, brings the madness. A super talented comic, juggler and brilliant dancer (which I think surprised many, including Gareth Gates), Josh leads the show perfectly, interacts well with Gareth and Jenny, and is great with the audience – although he might need to rethink his audience response when he comes on stage as many of the younger audience members got quite muddled by it.

Star billing is for Gareth Gates as Prince Gareth who ticks pretty much every box:

Handsome – tick. Can dance – tick. Can sing – tick (he'll need the lemon and honey tea for this run). Looks good with his top off... HUGE tick. That's right Gareth fans, there's a good chance if you come to see this that you'll be on Santa's naughty list for your thoughts.

The show is full of memorable moments, from the Wicked Queen's hilarious attempts at poisoning Snow White to the now staple Crossroads Panto end of act 1 flying spectacular.

The Northern Echo: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Darlington Hippodrome until Sunday, December 31

The only thing missing this year is a sense of comedy for the dame.

Jamie Jones plays Mrs Nelly Nightnurse and looks perfect but sadly has very little to do, a waste of such talent as there is not even the funny 12 Days of Christmas or If I Were Not... songs which everyone loves so much and have come to expect.

The production is visually stunning, with colourful costumes, elaborate sets and dazzling special effects. The choreography is energetic and fun, and the music catchy and memorable.

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The Snow White pantomime at the Darlington Hippodrome is a magical experience sure to delight audiences of all ages. It's a show that will leave you laughing, singing and certainly feeling the Christmas spirit.

Snow White is at Darlington Hippodrome until Sunday, December 31. Visit darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the box office on 01325 405405 for tickets.

Andrew Bramfitt