SLEEPING BEAUTY

Cambridge Arts Theatre

★★★★

“a spellbinding cast, laugh out loud comedy, and plenty of panto sparkle”

Fresh from refurbishment, the Cambridge Arts Theatre reopens the stage that helped launch stars like Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi. Kicking off its reawakening is ‘Sleeping Beauty’, a pantomime for all the family with a stellar cast, sparkling energy and laugh out loud fun. Come and add your applause to this iconic theatre’s history.

In the magical kingdom of Trumpington, Princess Rose is cursed by the fame hungry Carabosse – until Fairy Strawberry saves the day by softening the spell. The King hides Princess Rose deep within the Botanic Gardens to escape the curse. But will their plan succeed and can Rose’s friends help her find true love?

Written by Chris Jarvis of BBC fame, the story offers some fresh turns: Carabosse craves online fame, Prince Ken sends up the ‘prince charming’ trope, and the nanny is of course a panto dame. The script brims with puns and local jokes, including a whole song about Cambridgeshire towns. Consent is neatly included before the kiss. Extra scenes earn their place with laughs despite adding little to the plot – especially the riotously funny slip and slide sequence. New characters don’t all seem necessary (sorry Happy Harry!), and extended rhyming couplets and repeated introductions wear a little thin after a while, but overall it’s an entertaining update full of panto magic.

Director Michael Gattrell and Assistant Director Amy Kinnear deliver impressive sets, vibrant costumes and larger than life puppetry. Lively asides, slick transitions and seamless audience interaction keep the pace brisk and the energy high, with a group song led by eager volunteers proving a delightful highlight.

Musical Director Dean McDermott and Deputy Sam Fluskey (also on bass guitar) deliver an upbeat, well chosen score packed with modern hits for all ages. The lyrics are playfully adapted to each scene, and the band – completed by Alex Ward on guitar and Alan Dale on drums – delivers a rich, full sound far exceeding its size.

Kevan Allen’s choreography bursts with energy, blending ballet, jazz, Charleston and other styles in routines that flow well.

Ian Westbrook’s set design features hand painted detail and plenty of sparkle. The giant dragon is a showstopper and its comic disappearance earns big laughs. Mike Robertson’s vibrant lighting syncs seamlessly with the action, punctuating Carabosse’s dramatic entrances to great effect. Will Thompson’s sound design occasionally threatens to overpower the singers but is cleverly timed with playful effects sharpening the comedy. The costumes are a triumph, with the Dame parading an impressive array of increasingly outlandish outfits, and the glittering red finale a striking sight.

The stunning cast is packed with seasoned West End performers. Daisy Twells enchants as Princess Rose, with crystal clear vocals to match her refined elegance. Tricia Adele-Turner delivers delicious sass and powerhouse vocals as Carabosse. Tanisha Butterfield delights as Fairy Strawberry, her gentle presence lifted by soaring alto tones. Matt Harrop infuses King Truman with whimsical charm, crowned by a thrilling burst of vocal firepower. Joseph Hewlett charms as Prince Ken, fusing adorable sweetness with magnetic American cool and another stunning vocal performance. UK Pantomime Award winner Steven Roberts makes Happy Harry a lovable sidekick to the panto dame, brimming with sweet silliness. Matt Crosby as Nanny Nutkins steals the show with sharp improv, impeccable comic timing, and a towering personality. Taylor Alman, Charlie Barnard, Morgan Broome, Danielle Cato, Oliver Imeson, and Sophie Karaolis shine as a dynamic ensemble, bursting with energy and commitment.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ kicks off the return of the Cambridge Arts Theatre with a bang. With a spellbinding cast, laugh out loud comedy, and plenty of panto sparkle, it promises a dream night out.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Cambridge Arts Theatre

Reviewed on 7th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Richard Hubert Smith

Most recently reviewed at this venue:

CINDERELLA | ★★★★★ | December 2024

1984 | ★★★★ | October 2024

THE HISTORY BOYS | ★★★★ | October 2024

REBUS: A GAME CALLED MALICE | ★★★ | September 2024

CLUEDO 2: THE NEXT CHAPTER | ★★ | March 2024

MOTHER GOOSE | ★★★★ | December 2023

Sleeping Beauty

★★★★

“This is a very funny show indeed, complemented beautifully by Tim Gilvin’s pastiche score”

Everybody loves a villain. Which is why, in recent years, our favourite Disney miscreants have stepped forward to take centre stage in their stories, such as ‘Cruella’ from The One Hundred and One Dalmatians, or ‘Maleficent’ from Sleeping Beauty. They usually remain the villain, relishing the boos and hisses that feed them. But what if they want to convince you that, at heart, they weren’t the ‘bad guy’ after all. A large chunk of “Unfortunate: the Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch” allows Ursula to present her mitigating circumstances. She ain’t ‘bad’ really. But she is ‘badass’.

Shawna Hamic well and truly gets the jury on her side as the loveable ‘octogirl’, tearing up our preconceptions of the hag and throwing them overboard. She captains the ship, steering the show through the scandals, sex and subversive salaciousness of the story. It is a choppy sea, whipped up by hailstorms of catchy tunes, slapstick, jokes, innuendo and overblown, camp-as-Christmas performances. The production has come a long way from its Edinburgh Fringe origins, mooring up in Southwark before embarking on a nationwide tour in the New Year. Its growth in popularity seems unstoppable. Unfortunately, so does its growth in length, and somebody needs to step in to stem the swelling.

Having been treated to a potted backstory depicting Ursula and Triton growing up together, from squabbling schoolkids to teenage sweethearts, we dive into the crux of the tale. Following the unfortunate dissection of a sea cucumber named Kirsty, Ursula is framed and banished to the dark waters of the ocean. Flash forward twenty years and Triton, a single dad, is having a hard time with his youngest daughter, Ariel. Thomas Lowe, all glitter and beard, is a delightfully dumb king of the sea who fails to rein in his daughter’s sexual curiosities. Or rather, in Ariel’s own words, her desire to be ‘where the dicks are’ (one of the many earworm numbers). River Medway is the lewd and lascivious Ariel who falls for Jamie Mawson’s dumber than dumb Prince Eric. To get the man though, the woman must ‘lose her voice’ – so croons Ursula in one of the many satirical messages that pepper the production.

Among the high camp, excessive and heightened delivery, a standout performance is Allie Dart, as Sebastian the crab. Swapping the Jamaican accent for Irish, Dart pinpoints – and joins in – the joyful ridiculousness of it all. Doubling up as Colette the French chef, she delivers another of the musical highlights, ‘Les Poissons’, which showcases the intelligence of the text and lyrics that is often drowned in the waves of razzamatazz. But as a spectacle, “Unfortunate…” is an absolute triumph. Abby Clarke is the unseen star of the show, whose set, costume and puppetry are worth the ticket price alone.

There is nothing Disney about this show whatsoever, a fact that is wondrously celebrated in the number ‘We Didn’t Make it Disney’. The writers, Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx, have no eye on the family audience at all. But they do have an eye for comedy. This is a very funny show indeed, complemented beautifully by Tim Gilvin’s pastiche score. Chaotic and camp, full of sex and sorcery, mayhem and madness, it is an oceanic treat. You can’t just dip your toe in, you need to dive headlong. The shock as it washes over you is exhilarating and invigorating. Go on, take the plunge. You’ll need stamina to weather the storm (yes – I’ve mentioned it already – it does overstretch itself) but it is worth it.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Cambridge Arts Theatre

★★★★

“a spellbinding cast, laugh out loud comedy, and plenty of panto sparkle”

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Cambridge Arts Theatre

Reviewed on 7th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Richard Hubert Smith

Most recently reviewed at this venue:

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty

UNFORTUNATE at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

★★★★

“This is a very funny show indeed, complemented beautifully by Tim Gilvin’s pastiche score”

UNFORTUNATE at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Reviewed on 14th December 2023

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Pamela Raith

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Unfortunate

Unfortunate

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