Strong performances and great humour makes Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Ipswich Wolsey Theatre shine as the Christmas panto season gets under way

“I feel renewed, refreshed, and ready to rock n’ roll”

Featuring strong performances, renditions of popular classics, daring stunts, and a dancing camel, Goldilocks and the Three Bears – The Rock n' Roll Panto shines as it enters the end of its first week of performances.

Penned by Peter Rowe, this year’s Christmas pantomime at the Ipswich Wolsey Theatre offers a twist on a classic fairy tale – but not in the way you may expect.

A story seldom performed as a pantomime, it followed a circus troupe as they struggled to maintain relevance in the face of adversity.

The titular characters are all performers with dreams of bigger things, and the tale we all know and love forms part of an act, but the heroes are held down by this year’s villain, Wilberforce T Whippum, and his two goons, Flog'em and Fleece'em.

The show makes good use of the crowd, with many of the cast interacting with the public before the start, while also using people in the audience to base improvisational skits off.

The stand-out performances were by Steve Simmonds as Belinda Big Top, this year’s dame and a dab hand at the guitar, and Richard Costello as the villain, Wilberforce.

Pantomimes always struggle to appeal to both adults and children, and this year’s performance featured a blend of slapstick and toilet humour for the kids, and raunchier, more adult jokes for their parents – as well as plenty of quips about Norfolk.

It hosted a decent roster of anthems, including Van Halen’s Jump, featuring some filthy shredding by the Dame, Elton John’s I’m Still Standing, Queen’s The Show Must Go On, and Tubthumping by Chumbawamba, providing ample opportunity for the audience to tap their feet or clap along to the beat.

There’s even a chase scene through the crowd to Nelly the Elephant.

Most of the cast consisted of multi-instrumentalists, who would play every song, even if their character wasn’t present in the scene.

Natasha Lewis, who featured as Fairy Aurora, provided narration for the story.

The titular three bears are, in reality, a band from a far-away land dressed in bear costumes.

Papa Bear was played by Adam Langstaff, who last appeared at the Wolsey in the Snow Queen; Mama Bear was played by Tasha Shanade; and Baby Bear was played by Elizabeth Rowe, who also appeared in 2016’s Sinbad.

Goldilocks, Belinda’s daughter in this story – who actually has brown hair but wears a wig _ is played by Lucy Wells in a decent performance.

Attendees may want to bring a raincoat, as both Luke Thornton, who plays Bobo the Clown, and Dexter the Dromedary occasionally squirted the audience with water.

Though fast-paced, there are more sombre moments thanks to the blossoming love story between Goldilocks and new ringmaster Tommy Topper, played by Jared Leathwood.

These let to some duets that ranged from iffy to all right.

The panto doesn’t overstay its welcome, although the first act is significantly longer than the second.

Clocking in at around two hours, it managed to end with a bang before it became a slog.

It all rounded off with a rendition of Livin’ on a Prayer and an ovation from the crowd.

While it’s still difficult to recommend to anyone who despises pantomimes, it makes for a few hours of fun.

The panto runs until January 28, and will available to watch via livestream from December 15 to January 2.