Dick Whittington, a panto at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre

Great Yarmouth Area, Norfolk, UK
Christmas, Christmas in Norfolk, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Norfolk for families, Panto, Things to do in Great Yarmouth, Things to do in Norfolk

The O'Hallorans

We’re made up of Lyndsey, John and Erin, who all love a new adventure. We try to get away as much as possible, especially during school holidays and variety is a must for us. That means staying anywhere from a luxury hotel to a hostel and it’s not often we go to the same place twice.

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Norfolk has so many great things to do and see during the festive season. If you’re looking for a family-friendly panto to watch, the Pavilion Theatre in Gorleston is an ideal choice. For 2023, Dick Whittington is the panto of choice!

Address and contact information

Pier Gardens,
Gorleston-on-Sea,
Great Yarmouth,
NR31 6PP
01493 662832
Website: http://gorlestonpavilion.co.uk/

What parking is available?

The Pavilion Theatre does not have direct parking. There is plenty of free parking and pay and display parking, within walking distance of the theatre.

Panto toys and programmes

Who doesn’t love to buy a program when they go to the theatre? In 2023, programs for Dick Whittington cost £3 each.

Also available to buy before the show and during the interval are panto toys. Unlike some theatres, these items are reasonably priced at the Pavilion Theatre. Items such as the following are available to buy:

Unicorn headband – £5
LED swivel spinner – £5
Pixel sword – £4.50
Star wand – £4.50
Rainbow foam baton – £3
Spikey ball – £2.50

A family adventure with Dick Whittington

Seating with a difference

Before the show started we were shown to our seats. Seating at the Pavilion Theatre is a little bit different compared to a traditional theatre. Here, you’re seated at tables of 6, being shared with others unless you book all 6 seats.

We had seats at the front and side of the table and had a great view of the stage. It was nice to have somewhere to put our things, without balancing everything on our knees! This is a much more comfortable way to enjoy a show at the theatre as a family.

Cast

Dick Whittington – Jess Gray
Sarah the Cook – Mike Coleman
Evil Queen Rat – Alison Dean
Alice Fitzwarren – Madelin Leigh Roberts
Tommy the Cat – Hannah Titterington
Idle Jack – Nick Potts
Good Fairy Blossom – Isabella Firman
Alderman Fitzwarren – Simon Michael-Morgan

Although you won’t find big names at this panto like at the bigger theatres, you’re still in for a fantastic show. Leading this year is Jess Gray as Dick Whittington. With a strong voice and a wonderful stage presence, she commands the stage and plays a wonderful leading character.

Of course, a panto wouldn’t be the same without a dame and this year we have Mike Coleman playing Sarah the Cook. We had a great time waiting to see what crazy outfits this character would come out with and they did not disappoint. Erin laughed so much at the coffee cup and the boxes of chocolates used as a hat!

The cast, along with the dancers, were really good throughout. Dick Whittington has a fairly small cast but they bring the characters to life, really give it a lot of energy and are so entertaining. We particularly loved Hannah Titterington as Tommy the Cat and Isabella Firman as Good Fairy Blossom.

Soundtrack

One of the things that Erin said during the show was that she loved how many songs there were. You can’t beat a bit of a sing-song at the pinto and Dick Whittington excels in this area. There’s a real mix of music throughout, including Beyonce, Meghan Trainor, Baby Shark and of course, the 12 Days of Christmas.

A couple of the songs, Baby Shark and the 12 Days of Christmas, are fantastic for getting the audience involved. It’s lovely to feel like you’re a part of the show as well so these were a couple of lovely moments in Dick Whittington.

Erin was sitting dancing in her chair, and I don’t think anyone would have complained if she’d got up to dance. That’s the lovely thing about this theatre. It was quite a relaxed performance with plenty of children and families, all having a great time during the show.

Boo! Hiss!

Another great way that Dick Whittington was able to really invoice the audience was by getting them to participate throughout. At either side of the stage was an area for either the Good Fairy Blossom or the Evil Queen Rat. I thought the staging here was really well done, especially on Good Fairy Blossom’s side!

Each time either of these characters came on stage, the audience are encouraged to either cheer (for Good Fairy Blossom) or boo and hiss (for Evil Queen Rat). Erin and I get into this part of the panto so much and love booing as loud as we can.

Dick Whittington is such a family-friendly panto and the Pavilion Theatre is a lovely venue. With the choice of well-priced souvenirs and snacks, it’s a great choice for everyone that won’t break the bank. We’re already looking forward to going back in 2024!