Written by Stacy for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

My final review for 2025 is Snow White at The Majestic Theatre in Darlington and I was ready to end my panto run with a fun filled evening and what I got was a bright, colourful burst of panto joy that completely filled the stage and the auditorium. Produced by Trio Entertainment, this felt like a smaller panto in scale but absolutely huge in energy and heart.

The storyline follows the familiar Snow White tale, but it is told with warmth and pace that keeps the audience fully engaged throughout. The sets were vibrant and playful, bursting with colour and perfectly suited to the space. They gave the show a storybook feel while never overwhelming the performers, allowing the cast to remain the focus. There was a real sense of intimacy that comes with a smaller venue, and that only added to the connection between stage and audience.

The cast gave everything they had. Katie Price appeared digitally as The Magic Mirror, and her presence was slick and effective, fitting neatly into the modern panto style. Hayley Warters as Muddles was cute as a button, with a perfectly judged facial expression for every movement and moment. Each entrance lifted the energy another notch, and she appeared completely at ease in the role, drawing laughs and genuine affection effortlessly as she bounded across the stage.

Stephen Longstaff as the Dame showed exactly why he is a seasoned performer. He brought full Dame energy with every entrance, backed by a deep catalogue of experience that fuelled his performance and timing. Maddie Donnay as Snow White leaned fully into a Disneyfied style, which gave the character a charming innocence and sweetness. This made it even more satisfying when she ramped up her attitude in the resolution scene and showed real strength.

Dan Burlison as The Prince had charm and swagger in abundance. He carried the role with confidence and ease, engaging the audience with a natural stage presence that allowed his scenes to flow effortlessly. Jessie Ashcroft as The Wicked Queen clearly relished being evil. She commanded the stage with sharp delivery, strong vocals, and a delicious sense of menace that made her a perfect panto baddie.

The trio of dancers (Louise Walker, Olivia Doherty-Marks and Kaitlin Eglintine) added pace and polish throughout, keeping the show moving and injecting extra visual excitement into each musical number. The appearance of the dwarfs came with an unexpectedly cute and clever twist, and it is best left as a delightful surprise to be discovered rather than spoiled.

This performance did not pass without drama. During the Twelve Days of Christmas, there was an accident that resulted in one Dame down and the audience being evacuated. What followed was an extraordinary display of professionalism. The quick action of the cast and crew ensured everyone was safe, and once the show resumed, the cast adapted seamlessly. They amended the performance with confidence and humour, fully embracing the idea that the show must go on. Hats off to them all for finishing the performance so smoothly under such challenging circumstances.

In the end, this became a truly unique performance, not just for what happened but for how brilliantly it was handled. The energy never dropped, and the genuine love the cast have for their craft and each other shone through even more brightly. I wish Stephen well and hope he is doing okay. This was a reminder that live theatre is unpredictable and powered by people who care deeply about what they do. As the finale mega-mix came to a close, I was left thinking that sometimes the magic of theatre is not just in the fairy tale, but in the people who bring it to life no matter what.

Plays until 28 December

★★★★

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