Swanage Drama Company 
The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage 
Steve O’Neill 
10 January 2025
On a very cold January night, is there a better way to spend your evening than belly laughing yourself warm in the bright glow of the extraordinary Swanage Drama Company? From curtain up to final bow I spent two and a bit wonderful hours with a huge child-like grin on my face. The kids sitting behind us were beside themselves with excitement.
I believe you will not see a more joyous, hilarious, brilliant pantomime anywhere along the south coast this year and I don’t care if it’s amateur or professional. This show has everything a panto needs. In spades. Script – brilliant! Staging – fantastic! Action and dialogue – slick! Dame – sensational, Baddie – wicked yet curiously loveable, Hero – thigh slappingly terrific, Damsel – beautiful…
Fairy Lights entered before the curtains to set the scene and get the audience in the mood for some booing and cheering, as if they needed any encouragement. Resplendent in a wonderful lit up costume, her’s was a precursor to all of the fabulous costumes to come. The curtains opened on a beautifully lit set and a huge cast, who launched into the opening number.
The chorus, mostly children, with a few older faces who lent some depth to the voices, gave us great harmonies, simple but effective choreography and such enthusiasm and delight. And what a joy to see every actor on stage 100% engaged in the action and the story.
Sound deserves a mention. The balance between backing, unmic’d chorus and mic’d principles was masterful.
Now, normally at this point I would go on to mention outstanding actors but with this cast everyone was brilliant! The Cow, the Goose! I could go on and on, but I’m limited for space. The energy everyone brought to the stage was unparalleled. And that despite several members of the cast clearly suffering from the many bugs that seem to be doing the rounds this winter.
Victoria Jones should be commended for her marvelous direction and choreography (look out for ‘Thriller’). Nobody is credited with musical direction but whomever it was should also be commended. As should make-up, costumes, wigs, beanstalk makers…
Do yourselves a favour and cheer yourselves up on these cold winter’s days with a visit to the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage.
The show runs until 18th January.
