Reviews

Discover what Shire’s team thought of the concerts, live events and theatre shows they’ve seen over the past couple of months at local venues If you have a show in the Shire area, we can send a reviewer – and your show can appear on these pages too! Email editorial@

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LIGHTS & PANTO TRAIL, BEWILDERWOOD

BeWILDerwood’s first-ever Christmas lights and panto trail was a delight. The wooden walkway is easy to navigate, from the gingerbread men and candy canes at the start right through to Father Christmas waiting to greet us in his sleigh. Even the teens joined in looking for the silly snowmen and giant “Huge disco Christmas pudding! Reaching the huge disco balls and the balls and outdoor theatre, we stopped for the 10-minute pantomime, a giant then warmed up with bangers in blankets and hot chocolate pudding”with cream and marshmallows. The path through sparkling Christmas trees led to a lake full of coloured reflections. It was all so magical, it was easy to believe the snow flurries were real! AB ★★★★★

DARKSIDE, THEATRE SEVERN

Pink Floyd tribute Darkside have embodied the music of Britain’s greatest prog rockers since 2005. Tonight marked a return to Shrewsbury for both the band and me, and they were spellbinding, from the first shimmering chords of opener ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’.

All the musicians are very accomplished and at home with the repertoire, and seemed really in tune with each other. There was minimal interaction with the audience, which was actually quite refreshing. We were there to listen, they were there to play. The first half saw mainly early catalogue stuff, from the magical days of founder Syd Barrett, pre-David Gilmour. After the interval,

“Great things turned more visuals added upbeat, with some of the iconic later songs, reknowned for their to the complex structure. spectacle Great visuals added to the spectacle. Cariss Auburn was mesmerising taking Clare Torry’s part on ‘Great Gig in the Sky’. Other highlights were ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall’. With the audience invited to stand and dance, everyone got into groove. Darkside certainly did our heroes justice. CB ★★★★

MAMMA MIA THE MUSICAL, VENUE CYMRU

There’s always a danger when you go to see a show you’re familiar with that it won’t live up to your expectations. Mamma Mia was a big challenge for the touring production that passed through Llandudno recently. But within minutes it was clear this fast-paced, all-action show was going to be at least as entertaining as the movie, if not more.

The strong cast reprised much-loved roles with exactly the right amount of familiarity balanced with their own interpretation to make it more than just a replica, and some excellent stagecraft helped

the story flow from one setting to another. A simple twopart set twisted and turned to give us indoor scenes, outdoor scenes, bedrooms, beachfronts and bars, and strong singers carried the soundtrack “Everyone beautifully. was on By the end everyone their feet dancing” was on their feet dancing for the three-song encore, and the cast got a well-deserved standing ovation. KS ★★★★

ALADDIN, FESTIVAL DRAYTON CENTRE

The Big Tiny company produces first-class pantos for smaller venues and its Aladdin was the perfect fit here. With lively song and dance routines, excruciating puns and laugh-out-loud tomfoolery, plus a glimmer of romance, it was cheering seasonal entertainment. Elaborate sets, costumes and special effects provided the wow factor throughout the wacky storyline, with a magical flying carpet earning gasps from the audience. Henchmen Sergeant Pepper and PC World were suitably dastardly, and spirited dances to ‘Inky Pinky

“The fl ying carpet made the audience gasp”

Parley Vous’ and ‘In the Old Bazaar in Cairo’ worked a treat, as did Aladdin and Princess Jasmine’s harmonies in ‘Our House’.

“Teamwork doesn’t make the dream work,” gloated villain Abanaza, seconds before we learned just how wrong he was. JH ★★★