PACE panto 2024: Aladdin | Paisley Arts Centre - review

Name: Aladdin pantomime
Brand: PACE Theatre Company
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Updated: 1 day ago

Lauren Ellis-Steele and Chris Alexander in PACE panto 2024, Aladdin. Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

Aladdin | PACE Theatre Company pantomime 2024

Written & Directed by Andy McGregor | Original music by Alan Orr

Paisley Arts Centre | 8 December 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PACE Theatre Company's panto this year is a tartan-tastic version of Aladdin. The classic fairytale has been given a Scottish pantomime makeover, and in the hands of this talented creative team it feels like a fresh new story.

Ubiquitous panto dame Widow Twankie has been replaced by the fabulous Pattie McBotty (Chris Alexander) and her son here is Wipey McBotty (Alan Orr). Princess Rosie (Yana Harris) is a strong, independent woman who has no interest in riches and would rather go travelling. Hurrah! Aladdin (Kai Ross) is in love with Princess Rosie, but he also yearns for the wealth that a magic lamp and a powerful genie can provide. The super villain in this version of Aladdin is the wicked Wilma the Wonky (Lauren Ellis-Steele) - a fantastic over the top character. All of their costumes have tartan accents, and all of their lives are very much grounded in a small village somewhere in Scotland. It works really well and allows for plenty of creative license with the well-trodden tale.

Kai Ross and Chris Alexander in PACE panto 2024, Aladdin. Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

The stage at the recently refurbished Paisley Arts Centre looks fantastic this Christmas. It has also received the tartan treatment for panto-time, and the stylish apron comes alive with beautiful lighting accents throughout the show. Initially the stage feels small and overcrowded as the full junior ensemble of twenty plus talented teens struggle to squeeze into the tiny playing space alongside the village set. But the set soon opens up and there's room for everyone as the youngsters also disperse into various smaller groups.

The ensemble cast in this production are made up of 100 budding actors from PACE's core youth theatre academy split into 4 teams. I saw 'Team Three' and they were outstanding. This is the best junior ensemble I've seen in panto this year in terms of quality and talent. They sing, dance and act their socks off. They're enthusiastic, yes - they all are - but this group are also very well rehearsed and utterly professional. Their harmonies in the opening song are stunning and they continue to impress with supporting roles (villagers, royal guards, fairies etc), high-energy dance numbers and quality vocal performances throughout the entire show.

Young cast of PACE panto 2024, Aladdin. Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

The core adult cast are likewise magnificent. Kai Ross is a charming Aladdin. Yana Harris is a superb comic actor and her portrayal of the fiesty, driven Princess Rosie here is wonderful. Rosie is a brilliant female-role model for the crowd to root for and such a welcome departure from a princess in need of rescuing! Lauren Ellis-Steele is always sensational, and it's wonderful to see her play the deliciously devious baddie here. As always her vocals are unreal, and the little scene with a nod to Wicked made my stagey heart soar.

Chris Alexander is completely unrecognisable as the same person who played the pensive lead in writer Andy McGregor's recent smash-hit play Battery Park. Alexander's Panto Dame is a firecracker. She's bold, brash, cheeky and hilarious. Alan Orr is the perfect chaos companion for her; Orr's dry humour and unflappable stage persona are pretty unique in the pantosphere and devastatingly funny. The pair of them are superb with the crowd and particularly with the kids in the audience, working them up to a frenzy.

This pantomime is the best I've seem in terms of audience engagement. Children and adults from the crowd were brought onto the stage frequently to participate in various scenes; and at the end of the show, every child who wanted to, was invited up on stage to sing. That's such a lovely, inclusive touch! By the end of this show, the kids in the audience were all so hyped and at ease with the performers, that they ALL wanted to go up on stage! The cast had managed to create such a brilliant atmosphere in the auditorium, and that's a great introduction to the magic of theatre for little ones. They'll never forget their time singing on stage with the panto stars.

The cast of PACE panto 2024, Aladdin. Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

What makes this pantomime stand out from the rest is the quality of the writing. It's full of great original songs and very funny original jokes that genuinely made me laugh out loud. This is the 11th pantomime / Christmas show that I've seen this fortnight... Trust me, I've heard all the awful panto jokes! The material in this one is a breath of fresh Scottish air. There are too many highlights to list, but I particularly enjoyed the quick-fire torrent of Dragon related jokes that Alan Orr delivered without a hitch. A comedy masterclass.

Some of the well known song choices did feel a little off and outdated - the Macarena?! I also had an issue with the sound levels during the end of act one closing song (the one with Aladdin and the lamp.) Aladdin's vocals were drowned out by the loud volume of the music, and I couldn't make out any of his dialogue.

But these are very small criticisms of what is a fabulous family pantomime in a gorgeous, wam, welcoming venue. With top ticket prices around the £23 mark, this show is exceptional value for money for a lovely, local panto with a top-quality cast and creative team. If you're looking for a pantomime that the whole family will enjoy, PACE's Aladdin is a wee Scottish cracker of a panto. There is zero chance that your kids will be bored during this one. Go support this brilliant group! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aladdin is at Paisley Arts Centre now until Sunday 5 January 2025. See dates & ticket details here.

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