Pinocchio – Review – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

By Christine Goode, December 2024

We all know that Christmas is well on its way when it’s time for a good old family trip to Panto land… Oh yes, we do! A brand-new pantomime hits Bradford this year – Pinocchio. A change from firm favourites such as Aladdin or Cinderella, I was intrigued to see this, as in all my years of watching this great British tradition, I have never seen Pinocchio.

So, I head off with my guest and a throng of excited theatregoers to the bustling Alhambra Theatre, packed with families, school groups, and clubs, along with a few familiar celebrity faces to boot! A local primary school is performing Christmas carols in the foyer, Father Christmas makes an appearance, and flashing wands and spinning toys are everywhere. Children are squealing with delight – time to take the seats!

Taking on the part of Geppetto this year is Bradford favourite and Mr Christmas himself… Billy Pearce. This is Pearce’s 24th season. His dedication and large fan base keep audiences returning; a long run and sell-out shows are a testament to this.

“Impressive”

Pinocchio, originally written in 1883 by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, is an iconic children’s story. It tells the tale of a woodcarver named Geppetto, who carves a puppet he names Pinocchio. Pinocchio, renowned for his long nose (which grows when he lies), dreams of becoming a real boy. We follow him on his adventures, along with his friends the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket, who try to steer him away from danger. On his travels, he meets the evil Stromboli and manages to get himself into some perilous situations along the way.

This beloved story is brought to life in true panto style, with an impressive set filled with bright lights and glitter balls that illuminate the auditorium as the music starts. Dancers wear costumes that become more impressive as the show progresses, resembling something you might see in a Las Vegas show! With magic quick changes (or stripping) and a high-octane pyrotechnic spectacle from Spark Fire Dance, the audience is left whooping and cheering, especially the younger members who are delighted and amazed.

The storyline is very loose, but the cast is great – notably Nicholas McLean as Jiminy Cricket, with his wonderful vocals, Courtney Act as the Blue Fairy, who brings sunshine, sparkle, and glitz, and Chris Gascoyne as the evil Stromboli, playing the ultimate baddie and drawing boos every time he enters the stage.

“Endearing”

Choreography by Stillie Dee is fast, slick, and performed beautifully by the ensemble cast. Special effects by The Twins FX bring added wow factor to the show.

There is always something for all the family in panto, and Billy Pearce is the master. He is wonderful with the children, especially when he gets them up on stage. He calms their nerves and always gets the best from them, which is endearing to watch. Then boom – on with the jokes for the adults, which fly straight over the kids’ heads. He has the actors on stage in stitches, especially when they ‘corpse.’ His non-stop energy is infectious as he runs around the stage chasing, dancing, and singing. He is the ‘glitter glue’ that holds the show together. It does not stop there – at the final bows, he thanks everyone, from cast members to the audience and everyone in between, adding a personal touch.

We had a great night out with some good old-fashioned family fun. We headed back home through a sea of flashing wands with a warm Christmassy feeling and aching cheeks from laughing so much, knowing that Santa will soon be on his way!

‘Pinocchio’ is at Bradford Alhambra until Sun 19 Jan 2025
images: Phil Tragen