Review: Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds does it again with fantastic version of Aladdin for its 2024 pantomime

The Theatre Royal’s pantomime Aladdin dazzled like the lights on its Christmas tree in the foyer.

The opening night of the production, at the 200-year-old theatre in Bury St Edmunds, was an evening of merriment, from the fizz on arrival to the roaring laughter during the show.

I chose to take my daughter Layla, now aged nine, along as my plus one as the perfect start to her birthday weekend - and we both had a fabulous time.

In his opening night speech, Aladdin director, and artistic director and CEO of the theatre, Owen Calvert-Lyons, said normally he would ask people to help spread the word about the show, but they had already sold 24,000 tickets.

The production, which is running for seven weeks, is a contemporary twist on the story of Aladdin, setting the tale inside a hotel.

And not just any hotel, but the Grand Abanazer Hotel (with a nod to Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel).

Written by Chris Hannon, who many will know for playing the dad in Cbeebies Topsy and Tim, the story is distinctly Aladdin, but has a fresh flavour with all the key panto ingredients sprinkled in.

Hotel owner Abanazer (played by David Djemal) is our bad-breathed baddie who seeks the lamp when he realises he will never be able to woo Princess Yasmin (played by Darcy Manning) without its help.

The sleazy and loathsome Abanazer was delectably detestable, and amusingly comical, as any panto villain should be.

Bellboy Aladdin (played by Samuel Deghkhadirian) is a big-hearted and likeable dreamer who works for Abanazer and falls for the princess.

He is cheeky, energetic and funny - and brings a fantastic voice and dancing skills to the show.

His duet with Yasmin near the beginning of the show was one of my favourite songs of the night; Darcy’s voice is note-perfect and captivated the audience with her singing ability.

The Dame, Sally Swankey (played by Quinn Patrick), is a former dry-cleaning entrepreneur who ends up employed in the hotel laundry to pay her way.

Swankey only had to look at the audience in a particular way, or in a particular outfit, to generate fits of laughter, which was a testament to Patrick’s comic ability.

Swankey’s medley of songs featuring the word ‘hot’ in the hotel spa (where did that pair of maracas come from?!) was comedy gold.

As was probably to be expected, the Dame was my daughter’s favourite character in the show, and her favourite moment involved the Dame and a surprise for the audience.

The production was filled to the brim with audience interaction - including my daughter getting up on stage - making it an incredibly fun night.

It was also packed full of jokes and quips; some were obviously for the grown-ups, and went over my daughter’s head (‘A good hard rub?’ ‘Of the lamp!’), but this show for all ages was also hilarious for younger viewers.

Hats off to Charlie Cameron who plays not one, but two characters as the Genie and Vizzy, expertly mastering both roles.

In a show brimming with popular songs, her rendition of Katy Perry’s Firework was memorable.

Washy (played by Ruby Ablett) is the over-worked hotel employee, who takes every job in her stride and, to the audience’s delight, gets her happy ending.

She is a bedrock of the show, as well as the hotel, with so many standout scenes (look out for Swan Lake with chickens).

And how could I not mention Lizzie Buckingham who plays Camilla the Camel. This adorable and sassy camel with exceedingly long eye lashes was loved by the audience; a class act by Buckingham for what was a non-speaking role.

In his speech, director Calvert-Lyons said the production was ‘home-grown’, made for the audiences of West Suffolk. This was certainly true with references including Ed Sheeran, Walberswick and even a copy of the Bury Free Press.

A special mention must go to the eight young performers, who were absolutely superb and looked like they enjoyed every minute.

Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel inspired the set (by set and costume designer Dawn Allsopp), with its lashings of gold glitter and pink marble. And, pulling out all the stops, it was complete with a flying carpet.

Theatre Royal has done it again; here is a joyous, clever, family-friendly pantomime, which will no doubt be loved by audiences this festive season.

Abanazer may be ‘behind you!’, but, as the season begins, there are fortunately weeks of this fantastic show still to come.

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