Beauty and the Beast
Newcastle Northern Stage
Until 3 January 2026
The Christmas show at Northern Stage was always a highlight for our family. A show that introduced kids to theatre without descending into panto antics. It is challenging to get that balance right between fun and friendly on one side and storytelling on the other. We've been reviewing these shows for over a decade and, it has to be said, some worked better than others. When the show hits that sweet spot then it is a genuine delight that everyone of all ages can enjoy. When it fails then, usually, it has gone off on a limb trying to be clever and ended up going too dark.
We are introduced to a pair of fairies: Pink (Helena Antoniou) and Cecile (Lucy Doig) who, I think, are trying to create/narrate/interfere with a fairy tale. Within this part of the story Cecile wants to sing a song but Pink, who is an elderly fairy, is in charge and won't let her but it happy to let Rabbit (Maya Torres) eventually sing. If this doesn't sound much like the BATB story that you are familiar with then join the club. This trope didn't land with us and helped the show the drag a little.
Eventually we are introduced to the Beast via a creative shadow play animation which was innovative in the first time that it appeared. On its appearance of the screen on the final occasion it was starting to drag, made worse when there was a struggle to shift the screen off the stage. When then get the best part of the show as Beauty (Bridget Marumo) and her family Father (David Hopper), and sister Lettuce (Maya Torres), stumble over the Beast (Conor McCready) - providing us with the best theatrical moments. As we left a couple was overheard saying they wanted "more beast, less fairy".
The tale involving Beauty and the Beast follows the line used by the Ladybird book that I read as a kid rather than the Disney version that most pantos head for. As such, the best parts of the action comes from the scenes between the titular pair and around Beauty's family. In fact I'd go far as to say that the family dynamic was under utilised. Hopper is a naturally funny person and it great to see him playing a straight role so well but the show needed some light moments that, with the right material, he could deliver. In fact the fairy element probably made the show darker than it needed to be.
Here's the thing. And I've said this plenty of times - this is subjective. Someone else may love the show. You may love the show. The group of impeccably behaved Girl Guides behind us had at least one individual that was really getting into it, judging by her reaction to some scenes.
The show has one final niggle for me. The show is done in traverse, in other words, the stage has audience on both sides. Thus when the cast talk to one side, then the other side just gets to see their back. The solution is then to have the action running perpendicular to the audience, running left to right rather than at the audience. Now this works in the movies but it can make the audience passive observers rather than getting involved in the show. Is it time to go back to using Stage One in the traditional format for the Christmas shows?
So great cast, interesting shadow cinema move to help deliver exposition but the good work, in my opinion, was unravelled by the random fairies for most of the show. At least it wasn't dull.
Review: Stephen Oliver
Photos: Pamela Raith
Tickets:
Tickets are on sale now. For performance dates, access performances and booking, visit https://northernstage.co.uk/
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