Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favourite fairy tales so I was more than exited for our family trip to the Bournemouth Pavilion this Christmas.

Beauty and the Beast has everything you’d expect from panto with buckets full of comedy, audience participation, stunning costumes and set plus an outstanding cast.

The show begins in a beautiful village in France called Camembert and Fairy Bon Bon (Emma Barton from EastEnders) is a hilarious TikTok fairy who loves to bust a move and get the audience involved.

Belle (Ellie Green) is popular in the village but she’s attracted the unwanted attention of the egotistical Hugh (Travis Ross) and he'll try everything he can to win her over.  Meanwhile, Belle’s father Clement (Brookside and Jonathon Creek star Marcus Knibbs) is poor and decides to sell his prized Rose painting at the market far away so he can provide food for himself and his daughter.  On his way to market he finds himself taking warmth in a castle where he meets funny double act Polly Le Plonk (Jamie Steen) and Louie Le Plonk (Noel Brodie).

The enchanted castle is owned by the grumpy Beast (Mark Scott) who was transformed by an evil sorceress and he decides to imprison Belle’s father for trespassing.  When Belle finds him she asks the Beast for a trade and stays at the castle while her father is set free.  Polly Le Plonk is keen to see his master happy and with the help of Louie Le Plonk they plan ways for them to spend time together and it doesn’t take too long for Belle’s kindness to wear off on the Beast and they both realise they love each other.  

Supporting the main characters are professional actors who become village folk and dancers and this makes for an all round entertaining performance.  Beauty and the Beast will have you crying with laughter and you won't want it to end.  Go see it, you won't regret it! 

Beauty and the Beast will be on until 2 January 2023 with matinees and evening performances every day except 25 December 2022.  For more information and tickets, please visit Bournemouth Pavilion.