It’s panto season again, how on earth does it come around so quickly, it seems merely moments ago we were talking Peter Pan…but as sure as night follows day, the next festive extravaganza rolls into Milton Keynes Theatre for the festive season.
This year, Goldilocks and the Three Bears has hit the stage, you might think it’s not the most traditional of pantomimes and they have definitely given the story a bit of a glow up.
You cannot mistake that it has a circus theme, right from the lights going up – and there are a lot of lights, we’re told over 7,000 individual bulbs – you are transported to a colourful, playful world filled with acrobats, magicians, dancers, singing and there’s even an elephant!
Star of the show and ringmaster to the circus is Billy Barnum played by the legendary comedian Brian Conley. This is not his first rodeo and he’s on point from the first moment he walks out on stage. Toying with the audience, pushing the comedic boundaries, and physically getting the very most out of every laugh. There’s lots of jokes for the adults and some very funny moments for the whole family, fart jokes feature a lot…but hey, this is panto land!
The title character of Goldilocks is played by Lucy Conley (yep, you read that right…she is Brian’s real-life daughter) and in this story his on stage daughter as well. She has a superb voice and a real warmth on stage. The have a beautiful connection and towards the end there’s a real tearjerker moment, which could only work between a father and daughter.
The rest of the cast are also very good – the Three Bears wobble about on stage and perform an incredible tap dance routine in some very heavy suits, so big kudos to them. Dame Betty Barnum is played by David Robbins, and as a pantomime veteran of over three decades he wears the many incredible ‘designer’ frocks so very well. The inevitable baddie is Baron von Blackheart, played by Gary Milner. He treads that fine line of being just enough evil but always with a touch of comedy. His switching of accents is also something to behold.
There’s some on stage magic from Paul Hitchcock, aka The Magical Mysterioso, and The Timbuktu Tumblers perform a dazzling routine which includes fire and doing some gravity defying limbo!
Overall, there’s everything you want and expect from a pantomime; silliness, songs and something for everyone. You come away feeling happier and mainly very grateful that Britain still keeps up this unique art form that is panto, it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world, us Brits get it – and we can’t get enough of it, rightly so!
Extra information
The show runs with various performances until 11 January 2026. Tickets available from £15 per person. Run time; 60 minutes, 20 minute interval, 60 minutes. Matinee performances available. For group bookings call 020 7206 1174.
General ticket bookings: CLICK HERE
