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1. The Dukes Playhouse

There are more photos from this production below. Selecting any of the small thumbnail images will show a larger version of the picture in the main part of the page. »

Aladdin - Abanazar

- Dukes Theatre, Lancaster. Directed by Ian Forrest.

A beautifully designed and stunning-looking traditional pantomime from the Dukes, with marvellous costumes by Ashley Shairpe full of 'objets trouves' and subtle visual jokes (the Emperor's platform shoes were made from wads of bank-notes and the Princess's pretty pink dress was covered in 'My Little Ponies'). The costumes were designed to be quickly 'thrown on' over a basic black minimalist tunic, which enabled some impressive quick-changes to be made. Abanazar took his visual cue from African witch doctors, and the centre-piece of the costume was a spectacular four-foot headress made from feather dusters. I had to duck and go through doors sideways back-stage! Abanazar's sidekick was 'Charlie the chimp' played beautifully by Joanna Bacon with the aid of nothing more than a grass skirt and a couple of coconut shells for the chimp's 'face'.

Among the sets, which included eight-foot crysanthemums and huge glowing moons, a particular standout was the transformation of the plain black stage, in a matter of seconds, into an exact reproduction of the 'willow-pattern' plate, for the Emperor's tea party.

A remarkable example of creating something sumptuous from very little with imagination, wit and talent, something of a trademark for the director, the excellent Ian Forrest (who also did a mean turn as Charlie the Chimp one night when Jo Bacon was ill!).

Amanda Pointer was an athletic and mischievous Aladdin, and Francis Middleditch's Widow Twanky unashamedly stole every scene (s)he was in...

"There are notable performances from Jon Glentoran as wicked Abanazar, Francis Middleditch as Widow Twanky and Joanna Bacon as Jasmine"