This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Snow White at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Interval Theatre on Brum Radio, Dave Massey spoke to Matt Slack about Snow White at Birmingham Hippodrome.
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Snow White at
Birmingham Hippodrome
Directed by Michael Harrison, written by Alan McHugh and Matt Slack
Starring Lesley Joseph as Queen Dragonella, Matt Slack as Muddles, Joe McElderry as The Spirit of the Mirror, Faye Brooks as Snow White, Doreen Tipton as The Lady in Waiting, Andrew Ryan as Nannie Aspirin, Flawless as The Queen’s Guards and Jac Yarrow as Prince Harry of Harborne.
This production also stars Josh Bennett, George Coppen, Greg Doherty, Simeon Dyer, Craig Garner, Jamie John and Blake Lisle as the Magnificent Seven.
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas 
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas
One day in the small town of Birmingham, Princess Snow White meets Prince Harry of Harborne. Enraged by this possible romance Dragonella, Queen of an unnamed rival kingdom, sets about removing Snow White from this story.
This is a massive production with lots of characters to introduce, jokes to tell and songs to sing. Filled with more than a touch of old school variety Flawless offer modern street dance as the Queen’s Guards, there’s a very out of control twelve days of Christmas routine to get through. There are some very random elements a ghost, a reindeer and a dragon (The dragon is presumably a nod to Game of Thrones but still random).
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas 
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas
Lesley Joseph owns the stage for every second she is there as the evil queen and not even Matt Slack’s stage antics can stop the force of nature that is Lesley! Matt himself appears to even bigger cheers every year. The jokes are thick and fast as he also pays homage to 120 years of Birmingham Hippodrome. There’s even a chance to showcase his huge range of impressions.
Right from the outset, the production wants us, the audience, to know that nothing is conventional as Snow White’s seven future housemates open the show with their introduction.
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas 
Snow White production photos by Paul Coltas
The borderline anarchy from Matt Slack and outright fourth wall breaking add to the welcoming nature of the tradition of pantomime and Doreen Tipton’s Lady in Waiting seems never to be “in” character. “Is it the interval yet. Can someone get the kettle on?” There are moments where the line between script and added improv is so blurred that you can wonder what the production will look like in six weeks time. Andrew Ryan could give some Drag Race UK entrants a run for their money.
Luckily this production is filled with solid performers including not one but two Joseph’s in Jac Yarrow and Joe McElderry, and Faye Brookes vocals were lovely to hear as she also tries to steer the panto back on course.
A fantastic show celebrating British culture, pantomime and a reminder not to take yourself too seriously. This fairly family-friendly production is probably suitable for those aged 7 and up.
Snow White is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 2nd February. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/snow-white-the-seven-dwarfs
This isn’t a sponsored post.
When not writing about theatre for BrumHour, or producing Interval Theatre for Brum Radio (Tuesdays 3pm) brumradio.com/intervaltheatre, Dave Massey can be found eating crisps and tweeting about Birmingham for #BrumHour.
