Sleeping Beauty pantomime with Wendi Peters

Christmas, wouldn’t be Christmas for us without a trip to the Stockport Plaza panto.

If you’ve never been to the Plaza, you may well have spotted the gorgeous art deco style neon sign from the A6 as you head through Stockport town centre.

It’s a hell of a place bursting with history and nostalgia. 

The tall, narrow super cinema and variety theatre was built into the red sandstone of the town back in 1932. Because it was built into the rockface, with the stage area underground, many theatregoers considered it one of the safest places to be during the war. 

We might not be under threat of an air raid these days, but it still feels like we’re in safe hands when we walk through the doors.

And it’s beautiful. Despite being turned into a Bingo and Social club in the late 60s, many of the original features were preserved and restored including the fabulous organ which rises up in front of the stage to keep everyone entertained before the show. 

Add to that the fact that the theatre was saved as a result of a campaign by the local community back in 2000, and is staffed – in part – by a very dedicated band of volunteers, and it’s easy to see why the Plaza means such a lot to so many people.

Given it’s history, it’s the perfect place for a bit of good old fashioned panto fun. This year Extravaganza Productions brings us Sleeping Beauty. I hate a stereotype, but I’ll be honest I was wondering how princess dresses and an old fashioned love story would go down with two footy mad little lads in tow, but they loved it, as did friends we bumped into there too who also had a gaggle of boys with them.

Star of the show for our two was cheeky chappy Jangles the Jester played by Scott Gallagher whose “Alriiiiiiiight Stockport” catchphrase was delivered in an accent which sounded like a cross between Liam Gallagher and Justin Moorhouse. The kids (and grown ups) loved it and gave it back in Stockport spades …. “Alriiiiiiiight Jangles”. 

Scott has a great rapport with the audience weaving in edgy, up-to-the-minute gags for the adults as well as the latest kid-speak for the young ‘uns. The boys were in tucks when he said the princes would be coming to “rizz up”  the princess at the ball.

They also loved the obligatory “he’s behind you,” moments and the visual humour provided by a family of mice living in an oversized comedy cake. 

Josh Dixon is the great panto dame, Queen Hermione, donning a series of gorgeously gaudy hooped frocks and wonderful wigs including a rather fetching set of Princess Leia ear buns.

And for the soap fans, The Wicked Fairy Carabosse is played by Wendi Peters, who is probably best known to telly audiences as the long suffering Cilla Battersby Brown from Coronation Street.

A total glamour puss, decked head to foot in sequins and with a sinister cut glass accent, it is a world away from Wendi’s dour character on the cobbles and a real demonstration of just how versatile she is as an artist.

This panto has it all, the visual gags, Haribo treats pelt into the crowd with a vintage tennis bat, a huge slack-jawed dragon draws gasps as it looms out of the darkness, and there’s even a bit of pyrotechnic action to complete the Christmas sparkle.

It’s on until January 5, so catch it if you can. 

True to its history in variety, the Plaza hosts a really eclectic collection of shows and events. If you fancy a visit in the New Year, I can highly recommend the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour in March. Shown on the cinema screen, it’s a series of beautiful, breathtaking, inspiring, life affirming and original short documentary films about interesting characters exploring stunning and captivating places across the globe. 

Sleeping Beauty is at Stockport Plaza from 6 December 2024 until 5 January 2025.