Review: SLEEPING BEAUTY, Wolverhampton Grand
Photo credit: Alex Styles
From the moment the Wolverhampton Grand first opened its doors, pantomime has been part of its heartbeat and 130 years later, the theatre is still bursting with families eager to revel in this timeless British tradition. This Christmas sees Ian Adams and Tam Ryan once again team up to write and star in this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
In the land of Bilstonia, joy turns to dread when the wicked Carabosse curses the newborn Princess Beauty: on the day she pricks her finger as an adult, she will fall into an endless, enchanted sleep. Years pass, the curse draws near, and the kingdom holds its breath. All hope now rests on Prince Stephen, and the power of true love’s kiss, as he races to awaken Beauty before the curse claims her forever.
The script is bursting with sharp, up-to-date humour and playful nods to modern pop culture. Writers Ian Adams and Tam Ryan, long-time favourites at Wolverhampton’s Grand, clearly understand what makes a pantomime soar, and this one might just be their best yet.
There’s plenty to delight younger audience members, from the 6/7 TikTok trend to ‘Lava Chicken’ from the Minecraft movie, which has children singing and dancing in the aisles. Grown-ups, meanwhile, are treated to clever references to The Traitors and a steady stream of cheeky innuendo that sails right over the kids’ heads. It’s a true family pantomime with something for everyone.
The song choices are equally varied and crowd-pleasing, bouncing from TikTok hits like ‘APT’ to musical theatre favourites, before sprinkling in a bit of gloriously camp Euro-pop. Eurovision classics such as Conchita Wurst’s ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ and Remember Monday’s ‘What the Hell Just Happened’ bookend the interval beautifully, making the soundtrack as entertaining as the show itself.
Not only do the pair craft the story, they also step into the spotlight as the hilarious mother-and-son duo, Dame Mary Fortune (Adams) and Mickey Fortune (Ryan). Their natural chemistry and impeccable comic timing are unmistakable, the kind that only years of performing together can produce. Every entrance, one-liner, and ad-lib feels effortlessly authentic, sparking laughter before they’ve even finished a sentence.
With Wolverhampton now creating all of their pantomimes in-house, you can really feel the love and care poured into every detail for the local community. Everything you see on stage, from the sets to the costumes, has been designed specifically for this production. David Shields’ set and costume design is a real standout: the stage shimmers with glitter and bursts with colour, making it feel wonderfully lavish. The costumes are just as striking, perfectly capturing the magical world the characters live in. Natalie Bennyworth’s choreography gives the talented ensemble plenty of chances to shine. Despite the group being small, the routines are full of energy and flair, with flips and tricks that had the audience cheering throughout.
Wolverhampton local Solomon Davy makes a welcome return to the Grand as Prince Stephen, fresh off his role as Link Larkin in Hairspray earlier this year. He’s paired beautifully with Georgia Iudica-Davies as Princess Beauty, and together they deliver a stunning rendition of ‘Die With a Smile,’ showcasing not just strong vocals but a genuine, heartfelt connection on stage. There’s also a fun wink to Davy’s musical theatre roots. When the idea of him singing a musical-theatre number comes up, Mickey Fortune quickly shuts it down with a perfectly timed, “Nobody wants that,” earning plenty of laughs from the audience.
Zak Douglas, back on his home stage, gives a wonderfully charismatic performance as Gerald the Herald. He brings an easy charm to the role, blending enthusiasm and humour. Douglas is able to show his versatility as a performer during a key plot twist, where he leans fully into the pantomime chaos. Debra Stephenson brings her much-loved comedy impressions to the stage as Queen Bertha of Bilstonia, and she’s an absolute highlight. From “Stacey of the Solomon Islands” to a pitch-perfect Donald Trump, every impression lands beautifully and has the audience laughing from the moment she opens her mouth. Only in pantoland would Debra also be belting out ‘Dancing Through Life’, much to the audience’s delight after the recent release of Wicked: For Good.
Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother this year, Danny Beard steps into the role of Carabosse, and quite literally steps into some of the highest heels you’ll ever see. Towering at over eight feet in them, and dressed in some of the most stunning pantomime costumes imaginable, Beard cuts an unforgettable figure on stage.
What makes the performance even more impressive is how far removed Carabosse is from the warm, funny personality the country fell in love with on screen and through their podcast. This Christmas, you’ll struggle to find a villain more gleefully despised, judging by the thunderous boos Beard happily soaks up night after night. A standout moment is a brilliantly twisted version of ‘Cell Block Tango’, reimagined for the character, with a cheeky nod to Danny’s Scouse roots, that brings the house down. The performance is gloriously over-the-top, wickedly entertaining and is clearly a sign of things to come as 2026 looks to be their busiest year yet.
Sleeping Beauty is a pantomime that proves Wolverhampton’s Grand certainly isn’t resting on its laurels with its best production yet. It’s a bright, energetic pantomime bursting with songs, jokes and entertainment for all ages, brought to life by a standout cast with a star turn for Danny Beard. It’s the sort of show most theatres can only dream of… even after a hundred years’ sleep.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Jordan Potts
Sleeping Beauty plays at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until 4 January, with further info here.