Review: Sleeping Beauty at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

★★★★★

Following annual tradition, panto season is back in full swing in Wolverhampton with this year’s production at the Grand Theatre, Sleeping Beauty. The 2025 pantomime production is co-created by Tam Ryan and Ian Adams who are returning to star in their fifth and ninth pantomimes respectively, playing Mickey Fortune and Dame Mary Fortune. They play alongside a star-studded cast including: Drag Race UK’s Danny Beard as Carabosse; impressionist, Debra Stephenson as Queen Bertha of Bilstonia; Zak Douglas (G’Wed) as Gerald the Herald; Georgia Iudica-Davies (Heathers, Bat Out of Hell) as Princess Beauty; and Solomon Davy (The Code) as Prince Stephen.

The production opens on an absolutely stunning set design (David Shields) with shimmering backdrops, painted staging and elaborate set pieces that change throughout the various scenes and plot points, drawing audiences straight in to the storybook setting whether you’re celebrating birthdays in Bilstonia or being drawn into the thorned darkness of Carbosse’s evil spell. Shield’s set design is also accompanied by brilliant costume design, from the traditional campiness of Dame Mary Fortune’s attire to the particularly incredible costuming worn by Danny Beard.

The cast is completed by ensemble members Sofia Bennett, Jack Buchanan, Kiera Haynes, Caitlin Mae Hutley, Jack Kempson, Macy Pollington, Anna Rogers and Ben Simon-Wilson who bring energy in dance numbers choreographed by Natalie Bennyworth.

A freshly awakened take on the well-known fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty features everything you could possibly want from a panto; silly and chaotic comedy goes hand in hand with devilishly dark musical numbers, and call and responses are tailored to younger audiences while innuendos and well-written ‘adult’ jokes are woven into the script. Even the slap stick comedy moments which are not always to my taste were cleverly executed.

The writing for the production is a soaring success, playing well to the cast’s strengths, in particular impressionist, Debra Stephenson who is given plenty of moments to show off her talents, and homegrown talent Zak Douglas who shines in humorous and villainous moments. The spindle sharp scripting makes great use of pop culture moments, making references that will be known by both older audiences and younger ones. Wolverhampton Grand's Sleeping Beauty is a true peak of panto…‘Ooh yes it is!’

The live vocal musical numbers (directed by David Goodger and accompanied by orchestrations arranged by Mark Dickman) are also brilliantly performed, utilising well-known pop songs or showtunes and altering lyrics to fit the story. Danny Beard’s 'fairy foe' version of Cell Block Tango is particularly outstanding.

The entire cast of this production are fabulously camp and witty in their humour but when it comes to Danny Beard’s Carbosse, it’s hard to swap the cheers for boos when watching their wickedly good performance.

For fellow fans of The Gossip Gays, a podcast hosted by Danny Beard alongside best friend DJ Billy Andrew, this panto is also surely a chance to revisit the much-loved segment, ‘The Danny Beard National Treasure Barometer’! They’ve been called a ‘touring tart’ and a ‘national trinket’ but treading the boards in Sleeping Beauty, could raise their status to 'victorious villain' or even 'pearl of panto', with their captivatingly scene-stealing presence.

Sleeping Beauty runs at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre through the festive period until Sunday 4th January 2026. Tickets are on sale now, and this is not one you'll want to miss!

This review was written following a press invite to the production.