St Andrew’s Pantomime Group’s Pinocchio: at St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Until 21 February.
It’s panto time! Oh no! it isn’t… oh yes! it very much is. And while January might feel like an unusual moment for fairy dust and call-and-response, it turns out there’s no better cure for winter blues than a generous helping of classic British pantomime, delivered with warmth, wit and a whole lot of heart.
Celebrating an impressive 56 years of community pantomime, St Andrew’s Pantomime Group return once again with their annual offering of good old-fashioned family fun. This year’s choice, Pinocchio, is refreshingly less traditional – and a first for both me and the company. Even more impressively, this is a brand-new script written by their very own Hannah Davison. The story follows the familiar tale of the lonely toymaker Geppetto, whose wooden creation springs to life with the help of a fairy, embarking on a whirlwind adventure involving a circus, a theme park and even a whale’s belly, all while learning how to become a “real boy”. It’s imaginative, fast-paced and perfectly pitched for a young audience.
Pantomime is all about shared experience, and opening night couldn’t have been more joyfully chaotic: I attended with my husband, my two children (Edward, 7, and Florence, 5) and around forty Cubs and Beavers. The verdict from the target audience? Immediate and unanimous delight. From the moment they entered the auditorium, the children were hooked: shouting, laughing, joining in and fully embracing the panto spirit.
Leading the cast, Olivia Sharp absolutely steals the show as Pinocchio. A hugely talented young performer, she sings, dances and acts with boundless energy and charm, carrying the role with a confidence well beyond her years. David Fahrer is a standout as the villainous Stromboli, delivering a deliciously evil performance and a crowd-pleasing rendition of Let Me Entertain You. Bradley Coffey brings infectious pace and warmth as Jimmy Cricket, expertly engaging the audience throughout, while Rumble and Bumble (Loz Roddy-Pape and Olivia Popplewell) provide a strong comic double act packed with jokes for the younger ones. Amy Smith’s Fairy Queen brings genuine magic, complete with a beautiful singing voice, and Harry Carter as the Coachman is another fantastic young performer who crafted a brilliant villain that was my son’s favourite part! In addition, there are players in supporting roles that shine through the whole performance, thanks to sheer enjoyment and commitment, including Sage Render as Rose and Grace Coyle as Maisie May.
A very special mention must go to Hannah Davison, who not only appears in the show but has also written, directed, produced and choreographed it. As someone who makes theatre as part of my job, I can only applaud the scale of this achievement. To do all this purely for the love of theatre and the local community is remarkable.
The real stars, however, are the many children involved. Their energy is electric, the choreography is sharp and the gymnastic moments (cartwheels everywhere!) are hugely impressive. There is real talent on display here, and I’d wouldn’t be surprised to see some these performers in my A Level Drama class at Elliott Hudson in a few years’ time!
Musically, the show is packed with familiar hits – Golden, Let Me Entertain You, I’ve Got No Strings and more – keeping the energy high and the audience fully engaged. Participation is constant, with plenty of opportunities for children to shout, cheer and even get involved on stage. The atmosphere is joyful, noisy and utterly unapologetic; exactly as panto should be.
The production is completed with colourful, imaginative costumes that are expertly made, again all done by volunteers, alongside bright lighting and a set that creates a vibrant world for the story to unfold.
It’s worth remembering that this is community theatre, created without the time, resources or budgets of large-scale professional productions. You may miss the occasional line or spot small missteps, but that’s part of the charm, and it’s more than made up for by the enthusiasm, commitment and sheer love for performance on display. Tickets are extremely reasonably priced, and the passion here easily rivals that found on much bigger City stages.
At a time when budgets are shrinking and community spaces are under pressure, productions like this matter more than ever. Community theatre isn’t just entertainment; it’s a source of pride, creativity and connection for everyone involved. Support shows like this and you’re not just buying a ticket, you’re investing in joy, opportunity and local talent. There’s no doubt your children will love it, so brighten up your cold and dreary February with some community warmth and grab some tickets while you still can.
The show runs until Saturday 21 February 2026 at St Andrew’s Community Centre on Cardinal Road, LS11 8AG.
Show dates and times:
- Saturday 7 February 1:30pm and 5:30pm
- Wednesday 11 February 7pm
- Friday 13 February 7pm
- Saturday 14 February 1:30pm and 5:30pm
- Tuesday 17 February 7pm
- Thursday 19 February 7pm
- Friday 20 February 7pm
- Saturday 21 February 1:30pm and 5:30pm
Ticket prices have been held at £6 adult, £4 children once again and are available from the box office on 07988 349985 or email: [email protected]
Photography by Maria Forryan.
