Big Laughs, Bigger Costumes – The best panto I have ever seen
Having been raised on the “good old days” of proper music hall entertainment, I jumped at the chance to cover this, writes Luigia Minichiello.
It had been far longer than I realised since my last visit, the venue having moved to Silvertown in 2003 and it now sits within a mesmerising converted church. The building itself is full of character and atmosphere, standing in sharp contrast to much of the surrounding bleak new development. I must admit, I rather miss the Tate and Lyle sugar factory and even the unmistakable aroma from the nearby Ziff meat plant.
From the opening moments, it was clear this was going to be one hell of a show. We are introduced to Jack Pallister’s Spirit of the Beans character, whose powers increase with each drink, “Gin makes me randy, brandy makes me… disappointed.” His lime-green costume, complete with peas in the lapels, sets the tone for the fantastic costumes that fill the stage throughout this riotous two-hour production.
Written and directed by Lucy Hayes, Jack and His Giant Stalk blends sharp contemporary humour with unapologetically cheeky innuendo – a Brick Lane hallmark.
Set in the delightfully named town of Loosebottom, the story follows Jack Trott (Josh Benson) and Dame Fanny(Andrew Robley) as they face eviction at the hands of the scheming Poison Ivy and the Giant’s Wife, who have their sights firmly set on an all-inclusive holiday to Magaluf.
The plot gallops along at a cracking pace, layered with knowing jokes and fuelled by Dame Fanny’s increasingly outrageous costumes — 18 in total, I was told afterwards, with two tireless backstage dressers keeping everything moving seamlessly. At times, I found myself wishing we had more time simply to admire these creations: designs so structurally bold and outrageously inventive they had the audience laughing, gasping, and drawing breath in equal measure.
There’s something genuinely heart-warming about the strong sense of heritage running through the show. Vincent Hayes MBE, founder and resident compère of Brick Lane Music Hall, receives a rousing cheer when he appears as Willy Trott. His fearless interjections, “I went to bed and mistook a bottle of Tippex for Viagra and woke up with a correction”, are a reminder that this isn’t just pantomime, but living, breathing music hall. Singalongs, audience banter and the glorious response of “Groan on all you like, we’ve got your money now!” keep the spirit alive.
Each performer gets their moment to shine. Charlotte Fage impresses as Poison Ivy with stunning vocals; Samantha McNeil delivers athletic splits as Jill; and Lucy Reed’s Daisy the Cow, complete with karaoke antics, delights with infectious dance routines. When the full cast come together, the energy goes stratospheric. The “If I Was Not in Pantomime” sketch is a standout, fast, clever slapstick that fully deserved its standing ovation.
The show does not put a foot — or hoof — wrong. The writing, performances and sensational costumes are outstanding, and the ornate church setting only adds to the magic. The audience was a joyful mix of ages and familiar faces, including British comedy icon Su Pollard, who treated the crowd to a special “Hi-de-Hi!”, alongside Carry On star Anita Harris and Emmerdale’s Lorraine Chase, all laughing, singing and thoroughly enjoying the mayhem.
That warmth extends beyond the stage. Vincent Hayes MBE took time to thank the dedicated staff who kept the evening running smoothly, as well as acknowledging Brick Lane Music Hall’s wider commitment to community outreach and accessibility, work that deserves recognition and applause in its own right.
There may be one or two Viagra jokes too many, and if you’re easily triggered this may not be the night for you. But if you have a cheeky sense of humour and enjoy a modern take on traditional music hall entertainment, this is absolutely the place to be.
Magnificent from start to finish, the best pantomime I’ve seen in years, and I will most definitely be back.
Plus, I almost forgot with all the fun and excitement I was having, it comes with a delightful 3-course meal.
Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, London, E16 2DA.
Booking and Full details: https://www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk/
