I checked out the Peterborough Key Theatre during the summer this year when they did their amazing production of 'Sweet Charity' and to my pleasure I was asked to go watch their Christmas panto Aladdin. I went on Tuesday 14th of December and after an unfortunate wrong turning I managed to make my way to the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough where the production was taking place. Firstly, I would love to point out how amazing the theatre was and how professional the whole cast were. The night was a great success!
 | | Simon Bamford is Wishee Washee |
Donna Steele who has appeared in such productions as 'We will rock you', the new musical by Queen and Ben Elton, played Aladdin. Donna played this role very well with great character and full of high energy, giving the audience a great feel for the young Aladdin who is besotted with Jasmine. Princess Jasmine was played by Hayley Sanderson who played Charity in the last production, she played a great role and her talented singing voice shone through the whole evening. The Genie of the Lamp was played by Nicole Lawrence. With her humorous, witty talent she put on a great show and made a great impact on the audience. Then there was the evil magician Abanazar who was played by Peter Amory who has been in Emmerdale and currently going on to Heartbeat. The audience loved 'hissssssing' when he entered and he gave a mean, vindictive feel to the piece and I loved the way he carried himself on stage. A character that really stood out was Wishee Washee. The audience fell in love with this character and the interaction was amazing. Wishee Washee was played by Simon Bamford and the presentation of his dress gave the audience something to giggle at. I was impressed with the music and special effects of the evening, with amazing back drops and voice overs. The best part was when the characters ran down the audience and left and then the back drop showed the characters leaving the building, getting on a plane, going to Egypt, coming back and then the back drop disappeared with the characters re-entering the stage and this made everyone turn their heads round in the theatre to see them arrive! Every person on the stage gave it their all and I would truly recommend going to see Peterborough's Key theatre productions in the future especially Aladdin. The audience was full of all generations and panto is for everyone! The small mis-haps that happened in the evening with tongue twisted words really didn't matter because the actors and audience bonded and just had fun! The interaction with the audience in the song 'Ping-pong ball' and 'He's Behind You' the old classic, had the children, adults and even me in hysterics, it was a well worth venture to go to Peterborough and I thoroughly enjoyed it! | 
