The Performing Arts Company 
Berry Theatre, Hedge End
David Putley 
22 January 2026
Dick Whittington at the Berry highly entertained its audience with a mix of styles, some bordering Adult Pantomime in some of the more near the knuckle one-liners and others more traditional but with a set of staged musical numbers the vast cast age range performed with great panache. The choreography was off the scale with thought, complexity and skill and top marks to Faye Anteney for using every age group and part of the stage to such a high standard. I particularly enjoyed the big ensemble numbers such as the opening of Act 2 and the Disco Inferno/Thriller sequences which were so well done and then the huge medley at the end.
That is not say other vocal numbers were not as equally as good. Abbi Marchant brought thigh-slapping fun to the titled role, while Beth Warne was a sassy Alice Fitzwarren. Beth’s dead-pan lines alluding to the shortened version of Richard were very well delivered and received although the Sultan’s one liner following the gladiator style duel with King Rat was so unexpectedly funny. Their duets were very nicely done with Paige Ottaway adding spice, charm and stage presence as the newly named Lottie to the dynamic. Her sulky face was a pure joy.
Ben Smart as Idle Jack was a total professional delivering lines with smart understanding authenticity and accuracy; he was totally convincing and in-character throughout. Simon Beckingham as Dame Dolly Mixture in an ever-changing set of costumes brought warmth and fun to the role, interchanging well with “Rich” in the front row. As the villainous King Rat, Lewis Philpott was thoroughly enjoying all the “boos”; I liked the added comedic dimension of Rat Damon and Rat Le Blanc as performed by Adam Harding and Tai-Mai, also dancing so well too as part of the ensemble choreography with some very quick changes.
Mollie Lee as the narrating and magic adding Fairy Bowbells brought vocal talent and safe control to the proceedings throughout. She was clearly enjoying her “I Need a Hero” number. Solid support was also given by Lewis Wise as Alderman Fitzwarren and Sam Lock as the Sultan who grooved her way through Disco Inferno.
The script by Owen Hawes linked very well the 1400 storyline with 2026 references like the Gladiators and the Apprentice taxi sequence; I loved that bit particularly. I liked the lines and character given to Ricky Abbs-Fortum and Emily-Rose Mould as the Captain and First Mate. Making the Captain a conspirator theorist “That’s what they want you to think” was very clever and Emily-Rose’s “error” in the spotlight moment was very well received.
Louise Kent has brought to full life a new delightful interpretation of this old favourite, using every inch of the stage to the show advantage and she should be very pleased with the result. A tad too long for me, coming down at 10:25pm but cues and lines will no doubt pick up after the First Night. With such good staged musical numbers, perhaps the cake and broom sequences could have been snipped a little without losing quality; however, the rapturous response to the audience participation song so late in the evening meant the audience was right behind it all the way.
Lighting, sound and scene presentation was very slick, and the creation of the boat in the second half was a highlight. The backstage team and crew have no doubt worked so hard to get to such a high standard in all areas be it costume, lighting, scenery, etc.
So, congratulations all round. To manage such a large cast of such differing ages is a monumental feat and Performing Arts Company should be very pleased with what they have achieved.
