Panto Review: Pinocchio (Theatre Royal Stratford East)

Review by Sam Waite

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The grand old tradition of the pantomime poses one major issue – year after year, theatres are tasked with staging either a new or returning production, hoping to either match or improve on the delights of the previous season. With a sterling reputation for their annual panto, Theatre Royal Stratford East’s new run of Pinocchio contends not only with the endless array of festive family fun, but with their own extraordinary productions.

Fortunately, I can say that the team at Stratford East have met, if not surpassed, all expectations with this whimsical and wonderful, familiar yet fresh, take on the little wooden puppet who learned to be a real boy. Sticking largely to the traditional beats of the story, this Pinocchio eschews much of the for-the-parents humour other shows may feel the need for and provides a genuinely touching adventure for the whole family, squarely focused on delighting the youngsters who may be experiencing their first visit to the theatre.

The world of Pinocchio is a technicolour dream, as imagined by set designer Stewart J. Charlesworth, whose endlessly colourful backdrops feel like the children in attendance have been dropped right into their favourite cartoons. Also responsible for the costumes, Charlesworth decks out the cast in equally attractive creations, with insect/conscience Krik Krak’s more modern attire making her a comical foil to the Blue Rinse Fairy’s more traditional gown. Completing the staging’s visual splendour is Bretta Gerecke’s atmospheric lighting, including a particularly clever use of spotlights around the proscenium arch to indicate the passage of time.

Wearing some ingenious, and deceptively simple, costume pieces from Charlesworth, Dylan Collymore brings a boundless energy and excellent comic timing to the title role. Collymore’s Pinocchio learns what kindness is, and how to perform it, in real time, giving us some great early moments of the puppet approaching life with a hilarious bluntness that is swiftly corrected. As the voice of reason, Krik Krak benefits from the enthusiasm and strong crowd-work of Nicole Louise Lewis, whose more modern touches – a winged backpack, contemporary clothes, and a fun back and forth chant with the audience – help to establish the character as someone not quite belonging to the quaint, old-fashioned town of Stratty Ash.

In the coveted role of pantomime dame, Michael Bertenshaw is an absolute delight as the short-sighted Blue Rinse Fairy. While it might have been fun to a see a wider array of costumes for the Fairy, Bertenshaw’s commitment and gradual deepening of the character more than make up for it, as well as a strong comic duo between the Fairy and Krik Krak. Opposite them, another funny pair arrive in the form of Sly Fox and Miss Kat, Rushand Chambers and Jhanaica Van Mook respectively, whose villainy does eventually become a bit one-note, but whose stage presence is undeniable.

Although some may wish for some bigger twists to the well-known story, Trish Cooke’s script is still a great deal of fun, and manages to include plenty of important moral messages without becoming needlessly preachy. Even though the adult-oriented content is cut to a refreshing minimum, jokes does come quickfire in Pinocchio, and the main character’s initial rudeness is an excellent source of comedy. Robert Hyman, an icon of the Stratford East annual panto, provides jaunty, endlessly enjoyable tunes, with fun and hummable lyrics courtesy of both Hyman and Cooke.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the production is Tok Morakinyo as Gepetto, as well as a host of other supporting parts throughout the show. So likable is this Gepetto, so genuine and sweet is the development kinship between him and Pinocchio, that it’s a real shame we don’t get to see more of the pair together through the middle section of the story. Morakinyo brings such a wholesome, eminently joyous energy to the character that my only real complaint was this strong lead reduced to a supporting player for much of the runtime.

Excellently realised and perfectly performed, Stratford East’s Pinocchio is a highlight of the festive season thus far, and one that it would be a shame to miss. Gorgeous to look out, delightful to listen to, and sending everyone – no matter their age – home with plenty to think about, and with important lessons learned, pantomimes rarely come better than this glorious, utterly heartfelt offering.

Pinocchio plays at Theatre Royal Stratford East until January 4th 2025

For tickets and information visit https://www.stratfordeast.com

Photos by Craig Fuller