Goldilocks and the Three Bears | The Big Top at Ayrshire Athletics Arena
Writer Eric Potts | Director Andrew Agnew
The Big Top at Ayrshire Athletics Arena | 7 December 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While work is being carried out on the usual home of the Kilmarnock pantomime, The Palace Theatre, the Killie panto gang are this year entertaining audiences from a circus tent at Ayrshire Athletics Arena. The heated*, fully kitted-out Big Top tent is a huge, unique and fun venue for the Christmas panto, and the team behind Goldilocks and the Three Bears have made sure to write the location into the script. It's all very well done, and it feels like an even more special occasion: we're going to the circus and to the pantomime this year!
In this panto tale the three bears that Goldilocks meets are not just any bears: no, they are the dancing bears of Dean Park. And wow can they dance! Dame Dolly Dundonald's circus is struggling, primarily because of the underhand tactics of rival circus owner Roger Von Riccarton. When Dame Dolly convinces the three bears to come work at her lovely circus, the dastardly Von Riccarton decides he wants them for himself. Dun dun dah!
The location for the Kilmarnock panto this year immediately has the wow factor. It's really exciting to walk into the bright, beautiful Big Top tent. The "stage" for this production is in fact a massive round circus floor surrounded by the audience in curved stadium seats. We don't have the traditional stage setup with wings and changing scenery, instead there is a vast, open space to fill. The arena is beautifully lit and the backdrop to the circus ring includes a small curtained area flanked by bright video projections that change with the locations in the story. It's a pretty impressive setup! The cast use the whole arena: they run around the ring and along the aisles through the audience. This company are going to be very fit come January! There's always something going on to look at somewhere, and it's all incredibly well directed by Andrew Agnew who has an even more difficult job than usual to make sure that the space is used to its maximum potential.
Eric Potts book is full of local Ayrshire knowledge and brilliant Scottish humour. I love the meta approach they've taken with this show - permit me a teeny spoiler to explain: The panto opens with a dazzling, full cast performance of Robbie Williams 'Let Me Entertain You' with the opening words changed to "Summer's gone and winter's here; We're in a circus tent this year!" I laughed out loud at that, and I knew from that very first line that we were in for a special, thoughtfully created Scottish panto treat.
Considering the size of the cavernous auditorium, the sound levels throughout this entire production were excellent. The above is just one of example of how there was a full blown, loud, musical soundtrack playing but I still heard every word of dialogue clearly. Sound Designer Dominic Young has done a remarkable job with the acoustics in the tent.
Being in a circus tent with a panto story written around a circus location also allows - indeed demands - that this production branch out from the usual panto content. All of the important plot points of the "Goldilocks" fable are present here, from the chairs, the beds and the porridge bowls that are too big, too hot, just right etc, alongside familiar panto antics, farcical sketches and shenanigans. But we are also treated to some traditional circus acts. There's a circus act from Ukraine, Duo Mumladze, who entertain us with trampoline and juggling routines; There are a few creepy clowns and a fabulous clown car, and even some circus animals! But don't worry: all of the "animals" are really humans in fabulous costumes, but they are adorable. The costumes are excellent, and the inclusion of the 'animals' adds a touch of magic to the show.
This panto does however run too long; At least 20 minutes too long. It's brilliant that they want to pack so much content into the programme, and audiences will definitely feel that they've had value for their money, but both acts unfortunately start to drag a little at the 45 minute mark. Towards the end of Act II, once the story was complete, the Ukrainian circus act performed during what I assumed was the traditional 'singalong' slot and would allow the main cast time to prepare for the finale... But we then also had the customary kids on stage / audience sing-along afterwards too. I honestly don't think that there was room for both. Some editing is needed to ensure that the audience don't start to leave early as was the case at the show I saw. It's disruptive and frankly disrespectful to the performers; but then little ones do become fidgety after a while, and the story was 'over' so I completely understand.
The ensemble company for Goldilocks and the Three Bears are great, and the junior dancers - the panto babes - are outstanding. Lainie Barid's choreography is energetic and engaging. The three bears are brilliant dancers too; how they manage to do what they do in the large, I assume heavy, bear costumes is very impressive indeed. They go down a storm with the children in the crowd.
With a strong cast of killie panto favourites leading the adult cast, Alisa Erskine stands out as a strong, confident but sweet Goldilocks, and James McAnerney is deliciously villainous as the baddie who winds up the kids and gets lots of boos.
Andrew Agnew is exceptional as the Dame. Superbly talented, assured and hilarious, and with magnificent makeup and outrageous costumes, Agnew is everything you want from a panto Dame: Bright, colourful and over the top ridiculous. Agnew is the shining light and pivotal core around which this entire panto revolves. The show is in safe hands with him in the starring and directing role. Kilmarnock are so lucky to have him.
If you're looking for something a bit different this panto season, Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Big Top in Kilmarnock is well worth the trip out of town for. It's Christmas panto but with a glorious circus twist, and it's an experience panto goers of all ages are sure to remember for a very long time. Fantastic festive fun ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤹♂️ Goldilocks is at the Big Top in Kilmarnock now until Sunday 29 December 2024. See dates and ticket info here.
🎪 *Despite the fact that the tent is heated, it is cold! Especially the further back, closer to the tent walls you are seated. Take a fleece or a blanket for your legs. If they were to sell circus themed fleeces / blankets at this show they would make fortune!
🚗 More info on the car parking arrangements can be found here
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Kilmarnock panto 2024: Goldilocks and the Three Bears CAST
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Kilmarnock panto 2024 CREATIVE
Writer ERIC POTTS
Director ANDREW AGNEW
Choreographer LAINIE BAIRD
Musical Director DARREN WEBSTER
Musical Arranger CHRIS PUGH
LX Designer TOBY DARVILL
Sound Designer DOMINIC YOUNG
AV - Creative Video Designer IAIN MACPHERSON
Set Designer IAN WESTBROOK
Produced by: Imagine Theatre, A Trafalgar Entertainment Company
📸 production photos: Charlie Gilmour
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Kilmarnock panto Booking Details
KILMARNOCK - The Big Top at Ayrshire Athletics Arena
GODILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
Nov 22, 2023 – Dec 29 2024
Relaxed Performance – Saturday 7 December 2024
BSL Interpreted Performance – Friday 6 December 2024 6:30pm
*please confirm dates with the venue prior to booking
Big Top PARKING - for the Kilmarnock panto
Follow the yellow AA signs off the A77 and they will guide you to the official car park for the Big Top. It's at Scott Ellis recreation ground, next to Kilmarnock Cricket club just off Old Mill Road.
It does feel as if you are driving quite far away and you may think you would be closer parking at the retail park across the road, but the official car park is actually closer than that. It's just a 300m walk along a river path that's brightly lit and studded with panto jokes and trivia to keep you entertained along the way. There's no need to cross any busy roads - as is the case with the retail park - and although the car park itself is a bit rough and pot-holey, it's handy, does the job and is easy to exit.
Still - leave plenty of time to find and walk to the venue!
There is accessible parking, coach parking and drop off points closer to the venue - again, follow the yellow AA signage.
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