Panto Review: Sleeping Beauty at Sunderland Empire

Making a Christmas panto bigger and better each year is no mean feat, but the team at Sunderland Empire are pros. The man behind much of the madness, Tom Whalley, is back for his seventh year, this time as Vesta the Jester, and Miss Rory returns for a sixth year as Rorina the Cleaner. The duo have created such a great bond and they’re so brilliantly talented and quick-witted that they can play with the script on the spot – no two performances are ever the same. 

Call the Midwife’s Laura Main narrates this year’s story in rhyme as Fairy Snowfall, with sass and a toe-tapping solo number, and helps a feisty Princess Rose (Evelyn Hoskins), her dad the King (played by local star Peter Peverley), and the charismatic Prince Vincent (Milkshake’s David Ribi) battle the evil Carabosse (played by West End star Jordan Lee Davies). The silliness is what makes pantos so great, and fun for the whole family, but casting such talented actors, singers, dancers and all-round entertainers takes Sunderland Empire’s panto to a whole new level.

The story itself is told in a way we’ve never seen before. Rose is a plucky Princess and doesn’t rely on the Prince to fight her battles, and when Carabosse realises she’s met her match, she goes after the Prince. Through the magic of theatre, huge screens, and even a Tardis, we time travel to a 100 years in the future and Carabosse transforms into a fire breathing dragon. As usual, the show is littered with the most popular songs right now including their take on Golden from KPop Demon Hunters, Raye’s Where Is My Husband!, and For Good from Wicked.

Throughout, Tom and Miss Rory are up to their usual antics and hilarious banter. This particular production has more audience interaction than ever. One audience member (in our case, Paul) is put in charge of a big red button for the most important part of the show, and Miss Rory finds her next victim (sorry, boyfriend). 

Miss Rory wows in sparkling costumes – her best being her take on a Sunderland football kit, complete with a massive football headpiece. Her lines in this segment may change following the next match, but our audience are safe to cheer. We’re also treated to some usual favourites – a Mackem-themed Christmas song and the classic ‘he’s behind you’ ghost scene (with a Lambton Worm twist this year). This is more ridiculous each time we see it but the kids always love it and you can tell how much fun Tom and Miss Rory have doing it.

High-energy, fast-paced, and with cheekier jokes than ever, you won’t want to sleep on booking tickets to this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

See Sleeping Beauty at Sunderland Empire until 4th January.