Nikita Johal Archives - thespyinthestalls.com

★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

Looking for a panto to keep you laughing all the way to Christmas? Look no further than Greenwich Theatre’s latest instalment, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’. This riotous show is packed with slapstick, silliness and sparkle for all the family. It’s cheeky, cheerful and utterly charming – catch it while you can!

It’s 2025 and Wendy’s great granddaughter (also called Wendy) is stuck working at a car wash. Luckily her necklace doubles as a distress beacon, summoning Peter Pan who whisks her off to Neverland. Meanwhile, Captain Hook frets about his ‘old’ age, and Tinker Bell – jealous of Wendy’s arrival – tips Hook off about a fountain of youth. Cue pirates, puppets, misadventures, double entendres and more fish puns than you can shake a hook at.

Award winning writer Anthony Spargo returns with his fourth Greenwich panto, a gloriously bonkers spin on J. M. Barrie’s classic tale. Modern twists abound, from a Gen Z Tinker Bell to a flying Vauxhall Astra. The script is crammed with jokes of every flavour: puns, dad jokes and cheeky double entendres, with as many groans as belly laughs. Spargo’s fresh spin has plenty of fun for families and even more for the grown ups. I would argue not every song is necessary, but the sheer comic energy keeps the show fizzing.

Directed by James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director, expect the traditional campy villains and strait-laced goodies. Inventive video transitions, slick turntable scene changes and flying antics keep things lively, while Tink’s Heelys and a pile of puppets add extra fun. There are some genius moments, such as the age-defying fountain of youth, and the ‘Indiana Jones’ style boulders bouncing over the audience. The pace zips along until the shout outs and sing off at the end, leaving the finale a touch flat. Still, it’s a cracking good time.

The music is directed by ‘Uncle’ Steve Markwick on piano, with Gordon Parrish on guitar and Chris Wyles on drums. The trio create a full, lively sound. A panto isn’t complete without song parodies, though not every number feels necessary – the over used ‘Anything You Can Do’ duet springs to mind, though this does allow Smee (Louise Cielecki) to show off her pipes. Some songs rely on rather simple word swaps, though the fish pun medley is a genuine hoot.

Set and costume design by Emily Bestow is a glitter laden gift with impressively detailed hand-painted sets. Costumes embrace DIY panto charm, with Hook’s enormous hat stealing the show. Aidan Good’s sound design could do with more balance, as the band overpowers the singers and Tinker Bell’s (Olivia Williamson) vocals struggle to cut through. That said, the varied use of sound effects and incidental music adds real sparkle. Henry Slater’s lighting design becomes increasingly playful with moments of real theatrical flair. Nancy Kettle’s choreography is suitably playful, keeping the action lively. Hannah Schlenker’s video design is slick and inventive, with some standout moments including the ‘Mario Kart’ style sequence. Puppets by Pavlov’s Puppets and Naomi Oppenheim are a delight.

Spargo’s Hook is the star of the show, brimming with all the charisma, swagger and camp flair befitting a panto villain. Spargo commands the stage with impeccable timing and sharp asides and is a joy to watch. Samuel Bailey’s Peter Pan brings infectious energy and a strikingly powerful voice. Nikita Johal’s Wendy matches this with a perky presence and equally impressive vocals. Alex Marshall’s mermaid is a surprise highlight, oozing unexpected charm. The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto.

If you’re pining for a pun-packed panto, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’ is the one for you. Brimming with laughs for children and adults alike, it’s a glittering treat worth catching while you can.

The Ladybird Heard

Palace Theatre

Reviewed – 17th July 2021

★★★★

“a pleasurable distraction during the dog days of summer”

It’s school holidays again, and despite the pandemic, it’s the time of year when parents look around for something to do with the kids. This year, producers Kenny Wax and Matthew Gregory have answered the parental call for help with What the Ladybird Heard. The sixty minute show, now showing at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End, is based on the best selling children’s book by Julia Donaldson (story) and Lydia Monks (pictures). It’s about the right length for the kindergartner and primary school set. Bringing this well loved character and her farmyard friends to the stage is a shrewd move on Wax and Gregory’s part. What the Ladybird Heard is perfect summer material to welcome the winter pantomime and Christmas audiences back into the theatre. The cast of four (with a last minute appearance of the ASM as a policeman) has an easy and skilled connection with the audience. It’s a pleasure to watch them show off their acting, dancing and musical abilities.

That said, if there is one weakness, it is the way the story has been dramatized. There are lots of engaging touches, including the set, designed by Bek Palmer, and based on Lydia Monks’ pictures from the book. The way in which the animals are created by the actors from bits and pieces scattered randomly around is fun to watch. The fourth member of the cast, farmhand Raymond (doubling as the dastardly burglar Lanky Len), appears to be an usher randomly recruited from the auditorium, much to the audience’s delight. The songs, composed by Jolly Good Tunes, are just that. And Howard Jacques has an abundance of nice lines in his lyrics. Nevertheless, What the Ladybird Heard is, at its heart, a story about stopping a crime. The Ladybird, with her farmyard helpers, has to stop the Farmer’s prizewinning cow from being stolen by a couple of thieves. It’s a dramatic situation, with the right amount of suspense for a satisfying denouément. But the plot takes a while to get going. There’s a lot of business about introducing the story, instead of just plunging straight in. It’s also unclear whether this is going to be a new story about the Ladybird, or just a rehash of the first story in the series. There is a strong feeling that there isn’t really enough material in the book to fill sixty minutes of stage time, even with all the singing, dancing and audience participation.

Ultimately, What the Ladybird Heard works because of its cast. Director Graham Hubbard makes the most of the talents of Roddy Lynch (Farmer), Nikita Johal (Lily/Ladybird), Matthew McPherson (Hefty Hugh) and James Mateo-Salt (Lanky Len), and the team does not disappoint. From building puppets to playing musical instruments, singing and dancing, the actors are up for any challenge, and that includes managing the audience. They are particularly adept at handling the show’s educational aspect, which is all about identifying the animals and pairing them up with the appropriate animal sound—crucial to the plot. The actors also work hard at helping the audience spot the ladybird, who is as thrifty in her appearances, as she is in her words.

If you are looking for a pleasurable distraction during the dog days of summer, take your kids (or someone else’s) to What the Ladybird Heard. The Palace Theatre staff are well organized for a visit to the theatre, and that includes the hardworking front of house team who are doing their best to manage social distancing and good hygiene practices, both inside and outside the theatre.

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

Reviewed on 5th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Greenwich Theatre

Shows most recently reviewed at this venue:

PETER PAN

PETER PAN

PETER PAN

Palace Theatre

Reviewed – 17th July 2021

★★★★

“a pleasurable distraction during the dog days of summer”

Reviewed by Dominica Plummer

Photography by David Monteith-Hodge

The Ladybird Heard

Palace Theatre until 29th August then UK tour continues. Details whattheladybirdheardlive.co.uk

Recently reviewed by Dominica:

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