Mother Goose Reviews

Colin May from Seaford

EGGCELENT!!!!!

What a fantastic pantomime full of laughs from beginning to end, it must be the best I’ve ever seen! What a voice cilla has and Ian and John make the perfect couple 🤣 The whole cast are amazing a must see over the Christmas period !!!!!

Ann Salman from Brighton,

DAME AMAZING!!!

What a wonderful performance by all the cast! Lots of in jokes and audience engagement was excellent! Ian McKellen was born to be Mother goose and John Bishop was funny. I was lucky to see the dress rehearsal!

Andrea Kayser from Tunbridge Wells

FANTASTIC!

My 5 and 8 year old daughter say it was the best moment of their life! Absolute blast, belly aching laughter for all ages. Every cast member was outstanding and being in the Duke of York theater made it so special. We would return in a heartbeat!

Peter Green from Oxford,

ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL HAPPY SHOWS I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO WATCH.

Worries that John Bishop would not be there to play Vic Goose were dispelled as soon as understudy Gabriel Fleary came on stage and worked the audience. The thing I was was not expecting was the amazing acting and singing talent of the company. The goose that lays the golden eggs, Cilla Quack, played by Anna-Jane Casey, was vocally and in all aspects of her performance simply outstanding and stole the show several times. The clever incorporation into the panto script of Ian’s Mother Goose giving us ‘the quality of mercy speech’ from Merchant of Venice and Mr Vic Goose rising to the occasion to deliver Sonnet 18 ‘shall I compare thee’ was so well done. A great concern was when Sir Ian fell off the stage but to rapturous applause he just got up and carried on. Our national treasure Sir Ian and outstanding cast gave us a fabulous panto and a much needed golden glow to go home with in these troubled times. Now to book another viewing later in the tour.

Andrea from Liverpool,

FABULOUS

Just arrived home from today afternoon performance. What a fabulous show outstanding cast, amazing voices, audience participation. Sir Ian a true star, fun, energetic and majestic as mother goose what a performance. Singing from all performers was of the highest standard. Great seat in row n28/29 great view. Stage was brilliant. Loved it loved it. Highly recommended good for a bit of escapism. John Bishop was obviously at home and gave a fun performance. The goose was just spectacular. The highlight for me Ian tap dancing with vigour what a man RESPECT

KT from Liverpool,

JOYOUS 24 CARAT GOLD

Took my 5 year old Granddaughter and we both loved it in our own individual way. The best panto I have ever seen. It transported me to an afternoon of pure joy, fun and laughter. The incorporation of classical moments was sheer brilliance. An absolute triumph.

Lorraine from York

TOTAL JOY AND DELIGHT

Saw this March 1st Evening (travelled from York) and what a treat it was!! So many talents on one stage. Laughs galore , all of the traditional Panto traits. fab costumes, singing, dancing, slapstick, ........so many standout moments . Shakespeare scene / speeches took our breath away !! Brilliant Chemistry between Sir Ian and John Bishop . Loved the Liverpool Empire theatre , will be back. A very special evening

Judy Karlsson from Newark

EGGSTATIC!

What a wonderful pantomime, the best I’ve ever seen! Wonderful performances from John and Sir Ian. Brimming with fun, slapstick humour, singing and dancing to eggless! Travelled from Newark to see this staying overnight in gorgeous Oxford! What a tonic in these troubled times! Loved it, wonderful cast and great performance from all. John Bishop only had to appear to make me laugh and Sir Ian absolute legend!

Teresa Shepherd from Bristol,

BRILLIANT

If you need cheering up this is for you it was best panto I've seen I would go again tomorrow we laughed from the start to the end absolutely hilarious best thing ever 🤣🤣

Peter Waldron from Brighton,

FUNNY AND CAMP

Sir Ian and John Bishop and the whole cast were great fun and enjoyed being there after years of no Panto at the theatre Royal. What a come back. It must be the best panto in the country . I was deaf with laughter the fun never stops. So pleased to have seen what will go down as theatrical history.

J from Bristol,

WHAT A PERFORMANCE!

Just seen the matinee performance; a great show. A bit slow in places, but hilarious in others. Ian McKellan is a tour de force on stage, supported by a clearly talented and funny cast in this modern reimagining of a timeless children's classic. Would recommend with or without children, there's enough fun for both to enjoy.

Catherine from Seaford

DISAPPOINTED

I was disappointed with the show - costumes lacked a wow factor, there were times when there was nothing going on on the stage and I felt it tried too hard to be current. The support actors were great - plenty of talent there great voices and characters portrayed well. At times it was a John & Ian show not really a true panto. I have seen better!

Liz from Liverpool,

NOT LIKE STORY

Very disappointing. Walked out at interval. John Bishop and Ian McKellan going off script and laughing at their own personal jokes. Very unprofessional. Other people leaving at interval also.Sorry we wasted our money. First show after covid for us so doubly disappointing.

Leech, Proffessional Panto from Brighton,

EVEN IAN MCKELLANS PHAT ASS COULDNT MAKE THIS BEARABLE

Should be zero stars but it gets one for Ian McKellen's voluptuous ass and another for his phat tits; thoroughly awful show with jokes ranging from brainless to lame political commentary to outright transphobic, the only one that landed was about cock. Also sound mixing so horrible it litteraly hurt to listen to with actors mics peaking during songs. A digrace to panto altogether, wouldnt reccomend to my worst enemy.

Stuart from Oxford

GOOD FOR ADULTS, JUST LEAVE THE KIDS AT HOME

In many ways, this is a great show. The music is good, the two fairies have brilliant voices, and, of course, you're seeing Sir Ian McKellen with your actual eyes. So my review as an adult would probably be 4 stars. If you're a LOTR fan, you'd probably give it 5. But it's a stretch to claim it's a kids' panto - some of the humour came very close to crossing a line (possibly over it), and even when it didn't, I'm not sure kids would really get the political stuff. So more like a 1 if taking suitability for children into account.

Dafna from Brighton,

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

I never before review theater or plays. It is a personal taste and we all different in what we like. However... this one is different and I was so disappointed so I just have to share my views. Panto is first and for most for children. This was intended for adults. All the jokes and satirical digs were political. Nothing to do with children. The noise of the music was so high and loud that many young children had to put their hands on their ears. My grandchild 4 years of age ask to leave after 15 minutes of high pitch singing. It was a stand up comedy for adults! Sorry not recommended for children under 15. We left in the break.

Elaine Martin from Liverpool,

VERY DISAPPOINTED

I was looking forward to seeing this pantomime but was very disappointed. The acting was very wooden and the story line disjointed. Apart from the main characters some of the costumes looked cheap and I didn’t even realise that the woman dressed as a nun was supposed to be a penguin. It was advertised as a family show, which I don’t think it was. I found it to be quite rude and political. The scene with ‘Camilla’ was very disrespectful and cringe worthy. The sound in the Empire was very bad and it was difficult at times to hear what the actors were saying.. The dancing and singing were ok , but the choice of songs could have been better. It was definitely aimed more at adults. We went with friends so stayed until the end, otherwise we would have left at the interval.

Ivvy from Liverpool,

A CRUDE DISAPPOINTMENT

Crude & not funny. This was not I expect from a panto .,,. Or any family show. Certainly not for children.I expected quality with Ian McKellen as star of cast.

Sarah from London, England

NOT FOR CHILDREN

If you're an adult who likes rude (bordering obscene) humour, this is a show you'll love. There's much to recommend it if so (genuinely - performances, singing, music). If you're not, I'd give it a miss. I took myself and the children I was responsible for home at the interval. I can't understand how it has been so widely reported as family friendly, as it was no friend to my family.

Annie from Bristol,

DIRE - LEFT AT HALF TIME

Apart from Sir Ian, dialogue indistinct, inaudible rushed. Singers screechy and fighting the band. Jokes corny, not funny, and in the case of Camilla sketch, just distasteful. Whole production seemed amateurish . John Bishop replaced in the performance we saw but not sure if he could have made a difference. What a waste of money.

from Bristol,

DREADFUL

This show was lewd and terrible from start to the point at which we left. Very disappointing and certainly not suitable for children. Our young grandson asked to leave which says it all as he loves the theatre . Other people left too which was no surprise to us. A very expensive mistake in buying 4 tickets.

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