{"id":651275,"date":"2025-12-23T22:50:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T22:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/651275\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T22:50:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T22:50:23","slug":"reviews-of-sleeping-beauty-at-the-london-palladium-starring-catherine-tate-julian-clary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/651275\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviews of Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium starring Catherine Tate & Julian Clary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviews are coming out from London\u2019s theatre critics for big-budget pantomime Sleeping Beauty<\/strong><\/a> at the London Palladium starring Catherine Tate and Julian Clary.<\/p>\n

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Palladium Panto, and Sleeping Beauty is now playing at the London Palladium until 11 January 2026.<\/p>\n

Read reviews from The Times and The Stage, with further reviews to be added.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s extravaganza stars Catherine Tate<\/a><\/strong> as the wicked fairy Carabosse, with Palladium regulars Julian Clary<\/a><\/strong> as King Julian, Paul Zerdin<\/a><\/strong> as The Great Zerdini, Nigel Havers<\/a><\/strong> as the Keeper of the Privy, and Rob Madge<\/a><\/strong> as The Diva of Dreams.<\/p>\n

New this year, Sleeping Beauty also stars Jon Culshaw<\/a><\/strong> as King Julian\u2019s private detective, the West End\u2019s Emily Lane<\/a><\/strong> (Frozen, Hello, Dolly!) as Princess Beauty, and up-and-coming actor and dancer Amonik Melaco<\/a><\/strong> (Austenland<\/a>, Nutcracker!, Robin Hood) as the Prince.<\/p>\n

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, Diant\u00e9 Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Grant Thresh, and Frankie Wright.<\/p>\n

The panto<\/a> is written by Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison, with contributions from Tate and Clary, and directed by Harrison.<\/p>\n

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\/<\/p>\n

Sleeping Beauty is playing at the London Palladium until 11 January 2026.<\/p>\n

More about Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the critics saying about Sleeping Beauty – Palladium Panto?<\/p>\n

The Stage<\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n

“No-holds-barred, light entertainment spectacular”<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Celebratory anniversary show that honours the stars, the venue and the makers”<\/p>\n

“If there\u2019s one thing that\u2019s clear in this 10th anniversary production of the Palladium pantomime, it\u2019s that director and producer Michael Harrison knows how to celebrate in style.”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a no-holds-barred, light entertainment spectacular that confidently celebrates its uniqueness.”<\/p>\n

“Comedian and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin along with puppet partner Sam delivers some fresh comedy routines, while this year\u2019s Palladium newcomer Jon Culshaw puts many of his familiar impressions to good use as the royal Private Detective.”<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not surprising that comedian Clary is as much the focus of this anniversary as the pantomime itself. Clary\u2019s idiosyncratic delivery and own-brand outrageousness have always been a huge part of this show\u2019s appeal.”<\/p>\n

“Every pantomime requires a good nemesis and, thankfully, Catherine Tate is equal to the task. Dressed like a woodland Valkyrie, Tate\u2019s haughty, uncompromising Carabosse is equal parts hilarious and terrifying.”<\/p>\n

Paul Vale, The Stage<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read the review<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More reviews by Paul Vale<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More The Stage reviews<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Times<\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n

“Panto for kids? Oh no it isn\u2019t”<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The tenth anniversary of the London Palladium pantomime delivers a wicked Catherine Tate, endless smut and a dazzling coup de th\u00e9\u00e2tre”<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

“Still, taken on its own adult terms the tenth anniversary show, assembled by the producer-director Michael Harrison, delivers the goods.”<\/p>\n

“Catherine Tate is this year\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

“Any children in the auditorium (I didn\u2019t spot many, to be fair) would have been dazzled by that coup de th\u00e9\u00e2tre”<\/p>\n

Clive Davis, The Times<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read the review<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More reviews by Clive Davis<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More The Times reviews<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Telegraph<\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n

“Catherine Tate\u2019s smutfest panto is for adults with money to burn”<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Is the London Palladium\u2019s Sleeping Beauty worth the \u00a3275 ticket? Oh no it isn\u2019t!”<\/p>\n

“The lavish show is a commercial success, and its latest iteration boasts familiar famous faces \u2013 Julian Clary and Nigel Havers \u2013 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 \u00a3275? I\u2019d protest: \u201cOh no it isn\u2019t!\u201d”<\/p>\n

“Panto has long relished innuendo, but it\u2019s at saturation-point here, from the moment Clary arrives”<\/p>\n

\u201cTate is surprisingly good as the wicked Carabosse, but inevitably breaks character to give us her signature telly turns \u2013 Lauren \u201cAm I bovvered?\u201d Cooper, cackling \u2018Nan\u2019 singing Don\u2019t Stop Me Now and a closeted Derek (\u201cYou assume I take it up the proscenium arch?.. How very dare you?\u201d)”<\/p>\n

“Paul Zerdin\u2019s hand-puppet Sam raises a wry laugh: \u201cI went to Rwanda.\u201d \u201cHow was that?\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t know, I never took off.\u201d Fun for those in the know and with money to burn \u2013 but it all feels like a colossal in-joke.”<\/p>\n

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read the review<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More reviews by Dominic Cavendish<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

More The Telegraph reviews<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Average Rating: 4 Stars<\/b> based on 3 reviews<\/p>\n

CriticScore: 80 based on 3 reviews<\/p>\n

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Sleeping Beauty – Palladium Panto and other shows:<\/b> \ud83d\udc64News Team<\/a> \ud83d\udcc523 December 2025
Tags: Amonik Melaco<\/a>, Catherine Tate<\/a>, Emily Lane<\/a>, Jon Culshaw<\/a>, Julian Clary<\/a>, London Palladium<\/a>, Nigel Havers<\/a>, Palladium Panto<\/a>, Paul Zerdin<\/a>, Rob Madge<\/a>, Sleeping Beauty<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Main photo: Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium. Julian Clary. Photo by Paul Coltas<\/p>\n

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