Thursday 4 January 2024
This was the last panto of the season for Poppy and she was really looking forward to going to see Peter Pan – A New Pantomime Adventure.
We’d been sent the link to the relaxed performance guide some weeks before our visit.
The guide tells you all about the venue and what to expect once you walk through the doors. It’s a really good visual prompt which talks you right through the venue and into the auditorium.
There’s a description and photos of all the cast to help the relaxed performance audience recognise them. The guide also forewarns of any sensory moments in the show.
On arrival
We arrived at the venue with only ten minutes to go before the show started, and we immediately felt at ease. The staff were calm and really helpful. We got a drink from the bar and made our way to our seats, once Poppy had picked up some stickers from reception.
We found the transition through the building really easy and Alan the usher guided us to our seats.
We settled down and Poppy busied herself with the stickers whilst we were waiting for the show to start.
What made this a relaxed performance?
All the changes made for the performance were detailed in the relaxed performance guide and included house lights left on, doors left open – apart from the ultraviolet scene which was explained to us on entry to the auditorium – and ushers on hand before, after and during the show – who were really helpful.
More noise was allowed in the auditorium and it just generally felt more relaxed.
There were no loud bangs during the performance, and if everything did get a bit much, there was a chill out room available with cushions on the floor and sensory toys if needed.
Some elements of the show that would normally be directed at audience members were directed at the aformentioned Alan, which we think he secretly enjoyed!
What did Poppy think of the show?
This is the tenth year Little Wolf has been bringing pantomimes to Loughborough audiences. And what a way to celebrate!
Written by Morgan Brind, this production is thoroughly entertaining for audiences of all ages. The jokes are fast – and laugh out loud hilarious, the slapstick is utterly brilliant and the panto has all the usual elements including the ghost/pirate scene when Poppy revelled in shouting out ‘behind you!’
Poppy’s favourite characters were Peter Pan, played by Liam Watson and Eliza, played by Lottie Mae O’Kill, especially when they flew across the stage.
She really enjoyed the ultraviolet scenes and was so relaxed she didn’t even notice the auditorium doors had been shut.
Poppy loved all of the songs throughout the show, particularly Auntie Histamine’s, played by Matthew Siveter – what a voice! Coupled with her costumes and comedy, what’s not to love about this character?
She loved it when Captain Hook, played by Josh Dodding, appeared from ‘Below Deck’ and revelled in shouting ‘Boo!’ each time he appeared.
Poppy adored Tink, played by Mya Fox-Scott. The moment when the children got to cross their fingers and shout ‘I do believe in fairies’ to help her was truly wonderful, Poppy and the rest of the audience were shouting as loud as they could to make sure the magic worked!
Poppy felt so at ease during the performance that she couldn’t help but get up and dance towards the end and had a great time joining in.
The young dancers in this production are also worth a mention, who complemented the main cast really well and were fully involved throughout.
The relaxed performance pantomimes at this venue get better and better each year, thoroughly recommended for children and young adults with an autism spectrum condition or additional sensory needs.
Loughborough Town Hall is already booking for next year’s Relaxed Perfomance Pantomime of Snow White on Friday 3 January 2025, details can be found here.
Poppy’s star rating
