Swanage Musical Theatre Company 
The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage
KD Johnson 
19 March 2026
It’s a bit late now for the traditional pantomime season but these days they can happen all year round. When I was offered this review at the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage, I assumed that it was a pantomime, but I was mistaken. This production is the complete Disney Beauty and the Beast musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton. What a great job Swanage Musical Theatre have done with it.
We are struck at first by the elaborate and ingenious stage set. An opening piece showing the words “Once Upon a Time” in front of a romanticised snowy cottage (or maybe it’s a castle) acts as background to a silhouetted flashback to a time when the selfish prince earns the enmity of a fairy creature and the curse that transforms him into The Beast. That scene rolls away and more mobile trucks roll on to reveal the market square of the town; an incredible cast of up to 33 chorus members and minor characters pack the stage for the opening number, which rises in a crescendo to start the show with a bang. Holly Gate, as Belle (the titular “Beauty”), appropriately sings beautifully in this song, as she does throughout the show. The nine‑piece band, ably led by Nick Stewart, is a great asset to this company and their sumptuous sound really fills the auditorium and brings the show to life.
The slightly crazed inventor, Maurice, Belle’s father, is excellently portrayed by Mike Hill; the sentimental duet “No Matter What” between them is worthy of note. We are soon introduced to both the odious Gaston, whom Chris Edward plays as suitably dislikeable but without making him a pantomime villain, and his more likeable sidekick, Lefou, played here by the talented Reuben Marcus. The ensemble number “Gaston” exhibits some splendid multi-tiered choreography with dancers on tables, standing, and even lying on the floor.
The action passes through an ingenious forest curtain to the Beast’s lair, where we meet the remarkable performance talents of Emma Fidler as Mrs Potts, Freddie Lovell as Lumière and Brian Travers as Cogsworth. Danny Seldon plays a creditable part as the eponymous Beast and his solo “If I Can’t Love Her” is good, expressing both his passion and his regret. Really, however, the stars of in the enchanted palace are a clock, a candelabra and a teapot. Freddie has the audience in stitches with his comedic French accent, delivery and comic timing while Emma’s voice in the haunting “Beauty and the Beast” song is just perfect. Supporting parts in the palace are provided by Catherine Attridge as the opera singer turned wardrobe, Madame de la Grande Bouche, Ava Muir as Babette, while not forgetting Eli Gurney as Chip. The costumes, choreography and performances of both the principals and chorus in “Be Our Guest” surpass even that of the earlier ensemble numbers – this one even involves a Cancan-style high-kicking routine. The audience reaction is ecstatic and deservedly so; we can only imagine how much dedication and rehearsal time went into this number.
The principals are all well cast and perform well but there are always so many others to mention, without whom such shows as this don’t happen. I have mentioned the chorus, the choreography, the costumes and the musicians but technically the production works extremely well. The personal microphones behave themselves; I like the lighting effects with the swirling gobos on the floor and ceiling and the myriad reversible trucks pivoting balletically and rolling into place without apparent mishap. Congratulations are due to designers, constructors, stage managers and crew for some excellent work and ultimately to Laura Jolly for direction and choreography.
I would like to be able to enthuse everyone to get a ticket to see this delightful show (I could even be tempted to watch it again myself); unfortunately, however, it is sold out. Watch out for next year’s production, whatever that will be!
