"Dick Whittington - De Montfort Hall Leicester"

"Dick Whittington"

De Montfort Hall Leicester

 4 Stars

The pantomime season is in full swing and Dick Whittington at The De Montfort Hall did not disappoint.

This vibrant, laugh-packed production delivered festive cheer, classic panto fun and plenty of sparkle, making for a thoroughly enjoyable evening full of warmth, humour and traditional panto magic.

For those unfamiliar, Dick Whittington tells the story of a young man who travels to London in search of fame and fortune. He is guided by his loyal cat. Along the way, Dick encounters friends, foes and unexpected opportunities. Discovering that kindness, perseverance and believing in yourself are the keys to true success.

The show is packed with audience interaction, humour, memorable songs and magical moments that keep the story lively and engaging from start to finish.

Dick Whittington is played by Jarred Christmas. Dick is the ambitious and kind-hearted. He is brave, determined and good-natured. He is always looking out for others while chasing his dreams. Jarred Christmas brings charm, warmth, and likeability to the role, balancing comedy, romance and audience interaction with ease. He anchors the show with sincerity and heart. And delivering both the humorous and emotional moments with energy, timing, and relatability. Christmas’s Dick is instantly likeable, full of boyish optimism and capable of carrying both the story’s action and its tender, heartfelt moments.

Alice Fitzwarren is played by Rebecca Keatley. Alice Fitzwarren is the kind and supportive daughter of Alderman Fitzwarren, offering guidance and friendship to Dick on his journey. She is caring, optimistic and graceful. Often the voice of reason amid. Rebecca Keatley, familiar to younger audiences from CBeebies, embodies these qualities perfectly. Combining warmth, elegance and confidence. Her vocals shine in every musical moment and her natural chemistry with Dick makes the romantic elements feel genuine and engaging. Keatley’s Alice is approachable, charming and adds a layer of sincerity that grounds the more comedic elements of the show.

Alderman Fitzwarren is played by Ritchie Anderson. In this role, he is a respected figure of authority in London, responsible for managing the city and occasionally mediating between Dick, Alice, and the mischievous characters. Witty, pragmatic, and occasionally exasperated, he provides a grounding presence amid the humour. Ritchie is the TV personality and BBC Radio 2 presenter who appeared on series 20 of BBC Strictly Come Dancing. He brings so much energy, stage presence, and impeccable comic timing to the role. He perfectly balances dignity with humour, ensuring that Alderman Fitzwarren’s authority is never intimidating but always entertaining.

Fairy Bow Bells is played by Suzanne Shaw who is a magical, guiding character who helps Dick navigate his journey and ensures the story maintains its whimsical charm. She is kind, wise, playful, and occasionally mischievous. She embodies the essence of pantomime magic. Suzanne Shaw sparkles in the role. Bringing warmth, elegance and charm to every scene. She perfectly balances the whimsical and authoritative aspects of the character, making her enchanting, approachable and full of joy.

Vocally, she is confident, expressive and full of personality.

A standout highlight is her duet with Djalenga Scott performing “One Short Day”, (from Wicked) which showcased their incredible chemistry and left the audience utterly delighted. Shaw also engages effortlessly with the audience, using timing, gesture and humour to bring magic to every moment she is on stage.

Queen Rat is played by Djalenga Scott. Queen Rat is the hilariously wicked antagonist of the story, full of scheming, theatrics and larger than life villainy. She is cunning, mischievous and commanding. Challenging Dick at every turn and providing much of the show’s comic tension. Djalenga Scott fully embraces this role with flair, strong vocals and stage confidence. A highlight was her solo song called "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago The Musical, delivered with power and presence, demonstrating her versatility and talent. Scott expertly invites audience boos while balancing menace with humour, making Queen Rat as entertaining as she is dastardly. Every gesture, expression, and line is perfectly pitched to delight children and adults alike.

Jack Ballard brings the energy playing as Sarah The Cook with his humour and impeccable timing to the role, making Sarah a scene-stealing character. His physical comedy, expressive gestures and playful delivery add to the joyful chaos of the panto without ever overwhelming the story. Adding even more spectacle, Sarah features several costume changes throughout the show. Each one vibrant, whimsical, and perfectly suited to her comic personality.

From bustling aprons to elaborate theatrical outfits, the costumes enhance Ballard’s performance, allowing him to showcase versatility and creativity while keeping the audience engaged. The combination of humour, physicality and costume flair makes Sarah an unforgettable and endlessly entertaining presence on stage.

Boots the Cat played by the very talented Jack Hobbit. Boots the cat is Dick’s loyal feline companion and a source of physical comedy, heart, and fun. He is playful, mischievous, clever, and endlessly entertaining, often helping Dick out of tricky situations.

Boots The Cat is an absolute joy in the role. Bursting with personality, charm and physical comedy. His expressive beatboxing movements and playful interactions with Dick create a lovable double act. He even incorporates beatboxing, adding extra flair and uniqueness to the character. The costume is eye-popping and Hobbs’ performance brings humour, warmth and fun to the production, making Boots one of the most memorable pantomime cats you’ll ever see.

All of the cast interacted brilliantly with the audience, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere throughout the performance. Their confident engagement was outstanding and played a key role in bringing the pantomime tradition to life.

Adult Ensemble are Joshua Broadbent, Eliza Mason, Ariel David Nyandoro, Darragh Rochford, Megan Rutherford-Quinn and Masie Strong.

The ensemble adds energy, sparkle and humour throughout the production. Supporting the principal cast with impressive performances in song, dance and comedy. Their enthusiasm, precision and timing keep every scene lively and engaging.

The production also featured Junior Ensembles who brought extra charm, energy and community spirit to the performance.

Team Cats are Amelia Armson, Addison Hall, Lydia March, Spencer Stacey-Hunte, Darcie Purple, Lilly Corkill, Darcie Greenway, Maddie Ashley.

Team Bells are Izzy Duffy, Amy Burke, Juliet Horton, Louie Jay Smith, Lilly-Jayne Marston Grimmitt, Clara Tucker, Alyssia Dale, Charlie Worton.

Each Junior Ensemble member contributed with poise and confidence, executing choreographed numbers beautifully while adding delightful youthful energy that complemented the adults.

The show featured a mix of classic and contemporary tracks, including “Rule The World,” “This Is The Way to Amarillo,” “Cake By The Ocean,” “In the Navy,”. And due to popular demand, “Golden Hunters” from TikTok. Each number was performed with enthusiasm, polish and flair, keeping audiences engaged and dancing in their seats.

A particularly magical moment came when the production went glow-in-the-dark, with talented puppeteers bringing underwater fish, octopus and other creatures to life. This added a stunning visual element, delighting both children and adults alike.

The set and costumes were a real visual highlight of the production. The scenery was colourful, detailed and well designed creating a strong sense of place while allowing smooth transitions between scenes. From the bustling streets of London to more magical moments, the set supported the storytelling beautifully and added to the sense of scale and spectacle.

Costume design and construction were handled by Stephanie Collins, Margaret Lock, Rebecca Godfrey and James Maciver Costumes Ltd whose work was a real highlight of the production.

The costumes were bold colourful and imaginative, with frequent changes that added excitement and visual flair. Each design clearly reflected the personality of the character wearing it from comic exaggeration to magical elegance. The craftsmanship and attention to detail enhanced the storytelling and brought an extra layer of sparkle and professionalism to the pantomime.

Associate Producer is Laura Taylor who ensured the production ran smoothly from start to finish, allowing the cast and crew to focus on vibrant, polished performances. Her guidance behind the scenes maintained the energy, timing and flow that made the show such a joy.

Director is Janice Dunn who shaped pacing, humour and spectacle,balancing comedy and story to allow performers to shine and keeping audiences engaged throughout.

Additional Script Material Janice Dunn, Jarred Christmas and Jack Ballard The additional script material brought extra humour clever dialogue and fresh modern touches to the production.

These additions helped strengthen the storytelling sharpen the comedy and ensure the jokes landed well with both children and adults. The updates felt natural within the story and added to the lively pace and contemporary feel of the pantomime without losing its traditional charm.

Steve Power created a lively and well-balanced musical arrangement that perfectly supported the action on stage. His arrangements enhanced both the comedic and heartfelt moments giving each musical number its own identity while maintaining the festive spirit of pantomime. The music felt accessible, energetic and well paced helping the songs land effectively with audiences of all ages.

Tom Noyes led the musical director with confidence and attention to detail. He ensured strong musical cohesion throughout the production supporting the principal cast and ensemble with clarity and consistency. Under his guidance the music flowed smoothly from scene to scene, adding momentum to the storytelling and helping maintain the lively atmosphere from beginning to end.

Choreographer Stuart Rogers designed dynamic and polished choreography that brought energy and flair to every scene. His work allowed both adult and Junior performers to shine, highlighting their individual talents while ensuring seamless ensemble coordination. Each number felt lively, precise and visually engaging adding to the overall spectacle of the production.

Dance Captain is Eliza Mason who Maintained performance standards across the ensemble, ensuring cohesion, energy and precision throughout the production.

Lighting Designer is Simon 'Fuzzy' Broadbridge & Sound Designer is Joe 'Scooby' Skubala. Lighting created focus, mood and visual magic, highlighting key moments and adding sparkle to comedic and dramatic scenes. Sound was clear, balanced and immersive, ensuring every vocal and musical performance could be heard perfectly.

One particularly effective lighting moment felt more like an arena-style concert experience. During audience interaction the lights flashed back in response to the crowd’s reactions creating an exciting sense of involvement and energy. This clever use of lighting made the audience feel fully part of the show and added an extra layer of fun to the pantomime atmosphere.

With confident direction, strong performances, stunning costumes, and a genuine sense of fun, this production offers laughter, heart, and traditional panto magic in abundance. It is a thoroughly entertaining evening for families and theatre lovers alike and a festive treat that proves once again why pantomime remains such a cherished Christmas tradition.

Dick Whittington a truly enchanting family panto, is playing at the De Montfort Hall until Saturday, 3rd January 2026.

Review Written by Owen Brindley