{"id":625135,"date":"2025-12-10T23:55:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/625135\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T23:55:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:55:12","slug":"aladdin-lyceum-theatre-sheffield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/625135\/","title":{"rendered":"Aladdin – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writer and Director: Paul Hendy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following last year\u2019s success at the Pantomime Awards, where Sheffield Lyceum\u2019s production of\u00a0Snow White\u00a0won Best Pantomime (Over 900 Seats) and Best Supporting Artist, as well as picking up a number of other nominations, one wondered how this year\u2019s production of\u00a0Aladdin\u00a0could ever top it. It may not top it but it certainly does well to be just as good.<\/p>\n

Paul Hendy returns to write and direct the pantomime for the 19th year in Sheffield. Hendy\u2019s script is packed full of a healthy dosage of brand new jokes, whilst giving space for each member of the cast to showcase their breadth of talent. It brings the story of\u00a0Aladdin\u00a0and places it (fairly) firmly in Sheffield \u2013 or at least some mythical version of it. Hendy ensures the production moves at a just about perfect speed and makes sure that every one of our favourite gags is a delight to watch. It is a shame, however, that we don\u2019t any mess or slosh in this production \u2013 relocating the dame\u2019s work to a joke shop rather than a laundrette certainly makes space for a hilarious comedy routine, with some intimate audience participation for one willing volunteer from the audience, but it does take away the slosh scene we\u2019d usually get in\u00a0Aladdin.<\/p>\n

Sarah Langley returns to choreograph the show, doing her best to fill the stage with energetic movement \u2013 there\u2019s only so much you can do with an ensemble of 6 dancers on a large stage and no juvenile chorus though. Regardless the choreography is all great fun to watch! The set from Morgan Brind, Michelle Marden and Stuart Relph is wonderfully colourful, as are the fabulous costumes from Brind alongside Amy Chamberlain.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s pantomime, as ever, boasts a wonderfully talented cast.<\/p>\n

Kevin Clifton,\u00a0Strictly Come Dancing\u00a0star, is this year\u2019s villain Ivan Tochacha. He revels in the villainary and the audience love to boo him. He bounces off his co-stars very well and leads his big musical number with confidence, energy and strong rock vocals. He obviously gets plenty of moments to showcase the fabulous dancer that he is. These moments often also give the talented ensemble (Charlotte Ross Gower, Eleanor Rose Jackson, Thandie Nsingo, Max Sanderson, Onuri Smith and Lucas Wells) to showcase their phenomenal dance abilities, more so than they might usually.<\/p>\n

CBeebies\u2019 Evie Pickerill is a delight as the Spirit of the Ring, building a great rapport with the audience instantly. She demonstrates good comic timing, landing punchlines well, and blows the roof off with some powerhouse vocals \u2013 her rendition of Dancing in the Streets is one of the musical highlights of the show. Also bringing powerhouse vocals is Sario Solomon as Aladdin himself. Solomon is energetic and loveable, capturing the innocent teenage boy is head-over-heels in love delightfully. He plays well with Lauren Chia as Princess Jasmine, who sings beautifully and handles the traditional \u2018new lamps for old\u2019 scene expertly. Elliot Broadfoot is great fun as the Genie of the Lamp, building a great rapport with Pickerill\u2019s Spirit. It\u2019s a just a shame he gets such little stage time.<\/p>\n

Sheffield panto legend Damian Williams is on full form, taking every moment he can to make anyone laugh, whether on or off stage. Every year, Williams demonstrates why he\u2019s one of the best dames in the business and this year is no different. His costumes, designed by Michael J Batchelor and Joey\u2019s Dame Creations, get increasingly more outrageous, getting laughs before he\u2019s even said a word. Joey Wilby is another welcome return as Charlie, as is George Akid as PC World. Both are incredibly funny Northerners and the Sheffield audience loves them. Williams, Wilby and Akid work very well together as a comedy trio, but each one demonstrates their comic gifting as individuals too. Akid also gets a nice moment to share his strong singing ability. The only let down is the song sheet, fronted by Wilby and Akid, is largely uninspiring this year \u2013 but regardless, the audience still join in with full gusto.<\/p>\n

The production also sees the return of James \u2018the most enthusiastic man in showbusiness\u2019 Harrison to musical direct the show. Harrison is integrated into the show as he has been in previous years. Whilst he may not make it onto the ghost gag bench this year, we do hear some lovely vocals from him. The music is loud and energetic and played fabulously by Harrison, alongside Danny Hammerton, James Clarke and Mikey Ciancio. They all get their moment centre stage (quite literally) during the Entracte which is a lovely addition. There is a nice mix of songs throughout the show, but perhaps another song (besides Golden) that the kids were going to know well wouldn\u2019t have gone amiss.<\/p>\n

Aladdin\u00a0at Sheffield\u2019s Lyceum Theatre is a very funny pantomime with something for all ages to enjoy \u2013 all the traditional routines you expect, energetic musical numbers and plenty of audience participation.<\/p>\n

Runs until 4th January 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

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