Review: Suzanne Shaw brings tonnes of Sparkle to Leicester's Dick Whittington panto ✭✭✭✭✭
Dick Whittington at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall is a proper festive treat – colourful, confident and full of family-friendly fun. From the moment the curtain rises, this production sweeps you along with its warmth, humour and energy, delivering exactly what you want from a Christmas panto… and then some.
Suzanne Shaw brings so much class to the show. Her incredible singing, effortless charm and bags of smiles, joy and humour light up the stage every time she appears. She’s a total delight and adds real polish to the production.
Radio 2’s Richie Anderson makes a fantastic panto debut, bringing his infectious personality and natural warmth to the stage. He connects instantly with the audience and looks like he’s having the time of his life – which makes it all the more fun to watch.
Jarrod Christmas is, as ever, the glue that holds everything together. His comic timing and panto experience keep the show ticking along beautifully, although after many years of Leicester pantos, we’d quite like to see things mixed up a little next year to reward the loyal army of repeat visitors.
Rebecca Keatley from CBeebies is a lovely addition to the cast and one that little ones will absolutely adore, while Djalenga Scott brings undeniable West End sparkle as Queen Rat, delivering powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence.
That said, the real scene-stealers are Boots the Cat – played by the incredible, award-winning beatboxer Hobbit – and Dame Susan the Cook, expertly portrayed by Jack Ballard. Between them, they generate some of the biggest laughs and loudest cheers of the night, and both performances are an absolute joy. We don't know if Hobbit has done panto before, but he's an absolute natural.
Musically, the show is huge fun, with big songs that pull from everything from K-Pop Demon Hunters to Wicked, alongside bold pop numbers, genuine laugh-out-loud moments and some excellent set pieces. The production really shines when the impressive ensemble are unleashed in the full song-and-dance routines – energetic, slick and full of festive spirit.
Hold on to your cats… ahem, hats – Dick Whittington is brilliantly produced, and it’s a panto bursting with colour, comedy and Christmas cheer. With heart, humour and plenty of sparkle, this is a five-star festive outing for the whole family.
Tickets are available here, for performances running until 3 Jan: Dick Whittington - De Montfort Hall