York Panto Delights with Dinosaur & Twinkling Dame

Paul Hendy's latest panto at York Theatre Royal offers a fresh take on Sleeping Beauty, complete with surprising elements like a velociraptor named Kevin and a legion of toy soldiers. This is the fifth year of the current creative formula, which consistently provides crowd-pleasing, family-friendly entertainment, ensuring returning audiences anticipate beloved set pieces with new twists.

The performance is elevated by Theatre Royal favorite Robin Simpson as Nurse Nellie, the dame. Simpson's unpredictable charm and ability to improvise during genuine slip-ups, particularly during audience interaction, lead to a particularly brilliant gag that leaves everyone in stitches.

Supported by Tommy Carmichael as Jangles and a delightful double act from Jennie Dale and Jocasta Almgill, the panto excels. However, it slightly misses the mark on local and topical relevance, offering only cursory jokes rather than a distinctive regional flavor.