5 star review.
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of fun and frolics at Catford Broadway Theatre, Catford, this Christmas. Originally built as a variety and comedy venue, this Grade II-listed building has been lovingly restored with government funding and has been kept running for decades by a team led by the highly dedicated Carmel O’Connor.
You can expect from the start that you’re watching West End level of Talent in a local Southeast London Theatre. In fact, some of the cast are West End performers. And if you knew nothing about the Windrush generation, then this is a story based on exactly that. The romantic leads are played with a good-humoured symbiosis by Durone Stokes and Fergie Fraser. The Catford cat is a character based on Mister Windrush himself, Sam King. King is brought to life by Wayne Rollins.
The show is incredibly slick, with all the ingredients you expect from your winter pantomime… and more! The witty staging and direction by Peter Rowe, and fabulous choreography by Tarik Frimpong, will not give you time to catch your breath in between verbal and physical comic gags.
Come prepared for some brilliant improvised moments by Justin Brett, a highly experienced stand-up comedian playing the panto Dame, Sarah the Cook.
There are plenty of songs you will know, including a gently wooing arrangement of To Dream The Impossible Dream, sung expertly by Stokes. And of course, the pantomime villain with dastardly moments by Natasha Lewis’ Queen Rat. Be prepared that you may want to bring your friends and see it a second time!
The show runs at The Broadway Theatre, Catford until 31st December.
To book your tickets, contact nina@broadwaytheatre.org.uk
or call the Box Office on 020 869 00 002 between 12-4pm Tuesday-Thursday.
