Beauty and the Beast at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay Review

Reviews

7 Dec

Written by Stacy for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

I walked into the Playhouse Whitley Bay with the usual December anticipation, hoping for sparkles, silliness, and a warm festive glow. Beauty and the Beast delivered all of that and more with a production that felt full of heart and packed with energy from curtain rise to the final bow.

Directed by Harry Downes and written by Paul Ferguson, the story keeps all the familiar beats. Belle’s yearning for something more than her quiet village life, the Beast’s struggle with his curse, and the eventual triumph of kindness and love. It is a tale every panto fan knows but this company managed to give it a fresh sense of fun. Much of that was down to a cast that understood exactly what the local audience wanted.

Dani Harmer, CBBC's Tracy Beaker, played Belle with warmth and confidence, carrying every scene she touched. She brought a lovely, natural sincerity to the role, which made her songs feel especially touching. The Beast, played by Chris McLeish, delivered a powerful performance filled with intensity and heart. His physical presence and commanding voice gave the role real weight, and his rich, warm tone sent a ripple of goosebumps through the audience more than once. His scenes with Belle had a genuine emotional pull, and their chemistry helped anchor the wilder comic moments that surrounded them.

Steve Walls, as French Frank (this year), is marking his 15th year at the Playhouse. His performance was the comedic heart that kept the narrative beating, and I could not stop laughing. His constant tirade of groan worthy jokes was relentless in the best possible way. There was a joy in how he delivered each punchline, like he knew exactly how ridiculous he sounded and he made the entire audience feel in on the fun.

Patsy the Cook (Daniel Mawston) was a real crowd favourite, as always, which is why I found myself wanting even more of her. She was under used this year, which felt like a missed opportunity. Every time she appeared, the energy lifted, and her natural charm and playful timing reminded me why she is such a treasure to the Playhouse stage.

Gaston (Stylianos Thomadakis) and his loyal sidekick Le Shue (Simon Barnard) were a riot every time they burst onto the stage. Gaston strutted about with a glorious mix of vanity and clueless swagger that had the crowd cheering and jeering in equal measure. Le Shue matched him perfectly with wide eyed devotion and a wonderfully silly physical performance that added an extra layer of fun to every scene they shared. Balancing all that mischief was the Fairy of the North (Mary J Proud) who floated through the story with gentle authority. Her scenes brought a touch of magic and calm to the chaos and her clear, bright delivery made every spell and lesson feel genuinely enchanting.

The ensemble work I have to say was outstanding. The choreography by Jo Walls was sharp, inventive, and full of life. Every dancer impressed from the brilliant panto babes who brought enthusiasm, sass, and personality to every moment to the four professional dancers (Millie Rounsfell, Alfie Harris, Simeon Barrow and Wein Reynolds) whose precision, technique, and flair added real polish. Together, they made each big musical number a highlight, and I found myself wishing some of them were even longer.

Be ready for all the classic Playhouse traditions that the audience has come to love. The slop scene is as chaotic as ever, the water guns bring joyful mayhem to the front rows and beyond, and the return of The Bench - complete with the Ghostbusters Take Off routine - is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. There is also the magical moment when four young audience members are invited onto the stage, which never fails to warm the room. The show is packed with chances to join in and more than enough moments to shout, cheer, and go wild.

By the time the final applause rolled around, I felt completely swept up in the world they had created. Beauty and the Beast is warm, lively, and full of festive delights. It is a show with real heart, plenty of humour, and enough sparkle to brighten even the darkest winter night. The Playhouse Whitley Bay has delivered another triumph rich with charm, energy, and unforgettable fun. It is safe to say that I absolutely loved it.