Reviews are coming out from London’s theatre critics for big-budget pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium starring Catherine Tate and Julian Clary.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Palladium Panto, and Sleeping Beauty is now playing at the London Palladium until 11 January 2026.
Read reviews from The Times and The Stage, with further reviews to be added.
This year’s extravaganza stars Catherine Tate as the wicked fairy Carabosse, with Palladium regulars Julian Clary as King Julian, Paul Zerdin as The Great Zerdini, Nigel Havers as the Keeper of the Privy, and Rob Madge as The Diva of Dreams.
New this year, Sleeping Beauty also stars Jon Culshaw as King Julian’s private detective, the West End’s Emily Lane (Frozen, Hello, Dolly!) as Princess Beauty, and up-and-coming actor and dancer Amonik Melaco (Austenland, Nutcracker!, Robin Hood) as the Prince.
The ensemble members include Tonto Appiah, Courtenay Brady, Keely Chamberlain, Danny Coburn, Katie Dunsden, Demmileigh Foster, Charlie Goddard, Lowri Hamilton, Ruby Hood, Emma Hunter, Ediz Ibrahim, Claudia Lilly, Dianté Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Grant Thresh, and Frankie Wright.
The panto is written by Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison, with contributions from Tate and Clary, and directed by Harrison.
Joining Michael Harrison in the creative team are: Set design by Mark Walters; Choreography by Karen Bruce; Costume design for Julian Clary by Hugh Durrant; Costume design by Teresa Nalto; Speciality costume design by Mike Coltman; Visual special effects by The Twins FX; Lighting design by Ben Cracknell; Sound design by Matt Peploe; and Composition and orchestrations by Gary Hind/
Sleeping Beauty is playing at the London Palladium until 11 January 2026.
More about Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium
What are the critics saying about Sleeping Beauty – Palladium Panto?
The Stage
★★★★★
“No-holds-barred, light entertainment spectacular”
“Celebratory anniversary show that honours the stars, the venue and the makers”
“If there’s one thing that’s clear in this 10th anniversary production of the Palladium pantomime, it’s that director and producer Michael Harrison knows how to celebrate in style.”
“It’s a no-holds-barred, light entertainment spectacular that confidently celebrates its uniqueness.”
“Comedian and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin along with puppet partner Sam delivers some fresh comedy routines, while this year’s Palladium newcomer Jon Culshaw puts many of his familiar impressions to good use as the royal Private Detective.”
“It’s not surprising that comedian Clary is as much the focus of this anniversary as the pantomime itself. Clary’s idiosyncratic delivery and own-brand outrageousness have always been a huge part of this show’s appeal.”
“Every pantomime requires a good nemesis and, thankfully, Catherine Tate is equal to the task. Dressed like a woodland Valkyrie, Tate’s haughty, uncompromising Carabosse is equal parts hilarious and terrifying.”
Paul Vale, The Stage
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The Times
★★★★
“Panto for kids? Oh no it isn’t”
“The tenth anniversary of the London Palladium pantomime delivers a wicked Catherine Tate, endless smut and a dazzling coup de théâtre”
“As ever, the camp master of ceremonies [Julian Clary] sprays double entendres in all directions in an entertainment that bears only a passing resemblance to a traditional panto. What you get is really a variety show with the bare bones of a storyline tacked on.”
“Still, taken on its own adult terms the tenth anniversary show, assembled by the producer-director Michael Harrison, delivers the goods.”
“Catherine Tate is this year’s special guest, as Carabosse the Wicked Fairy. She wanders in and out of the action at random but the audience at the matinee I attended clearly enjoyed the chance to see some of her favourite TV characters again.”
“Rob Madge, looking like a fairy that has tumbled from the top of a Christmas tree, adds his own brand of camp on a song or two.”
“Any children in the auditorium (I didn’t spot many, to be fair) would have been dazzled by that coup de théâtre”
Clive Davis, The Times
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The Telegraph
★★★
“Catherine Tate’s smutfest panto is for adults with money to burn”
“Is the London Palladium’s Sleeping Beauty worth the £275 ticket? Oh no it isn’t!”
“The lavish show is a commercial success, and its latest iteration boasts familiar famous faces – Julian Clary and Nigel Havers – plus Catherine Tate making her panto debut. But while they are all very droll, is their effort truly honouring that prestigious heritage and is the show really worth a top price of £275? I’d protest: “Oh no it isn’t!””
“Panto has long relished innuendo, but it’s at saturation-point here, from the moment Clary arrives”
“Tate is surprisingly good as the wicked Carabosse, but inevitably breaks character to give us her signature telly turns – Lauren “Am I bovvered?” Cooper, cackling ‘Nan’ singing Don’t Stop Me Now and a closeted Derek (“You assume I take it up the proscenium arch?.. How very dare you?”)”
“Paul Zerdin’s hand-puppet Sam raises a wry laugh: “I went to Rwanda.” “How was that?” “I don’t know, I never took off.” Fun for those in the know and with money to burn – but it all feels like a colossal in-joke.”
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph
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Average Rating: 4 Stars based on 3 reviews
CriticScore: 80 based on 3 reviews
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Tags: Amonik Melaco, Catherine Tate, Emily Lane, Jon Culshaw, Julian Clary, London Palladium, Nigel Havers, Palladium Panto, Paul Zerdin, Rob Madge, Sleeping Beauty
📷 Main photo: Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium. Julian Clary. Photo by Paul Coltas
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