NE1 Reviews: Aladdin

A 20-Year Celebration Disguised as a Trip to Panto-Land 

Before we even get started, let’s get one thing very clear: if you’re a seasoned panto-goer - the type who knows their Baron Hardup from their Widow Twankey - this year’s Aladdin is… well… a little different. In fact, this isn’t so much the traditional Aladdin as it is The Danny & Clive Show (featuring Aladdin). 

And honestly? For the year they’re celebrating 20 years on the Theatre Royal stage, it couldn’t be more perfect. It was possibly the most refreshing panto display I’ve seen in years! 

A Panto-Land Extravaganza 

This production lives proudly, and very loudly in Panto-Land. Expect references, throwbacks, cameos, panto in-jokes, panto out-jokes, and possibly every panto reference they’ve ever used in two decades thrown lovingly into a blender and fired at the audience with a confetti cannon. 

From the opening scene alone, you know you’re watching something special. Honestly, I think they packed more gags, more special effects, more props, more “HOW did they even make that?!” moments into those first five minutes than most regional theatres manage across an entire production. 

From the crocodile to the fire breathing dragon, when we say the Danny and Clive’s opening scene is an opener, it really is one heck of an opener! 

Standout Performances 

Joe McElderry as the Spirit of the Ring 

Last year, Joe blew us away as with his performance as Spirit of the Sea, and I genuinely didn’t think he could top it. I was wrong. Joe’s performance this year was brilliant - warm, bright, and full of that spark that just makes him impossible not to love. 

One of my favourite things about Joe is witnessing the exact moment Danny throws in a cheeky extra gag or goes completely off-script. Joe tries - he REALLY tries - to hold character, but the smile creeps in and the shoulders start shaking, and suddenly he’s gone. And honestly? Those are the moments I live for. 

From a missing line to a missing trumpet (yes, that happened), last tonight had the whole audience in absolute stitches. As a seasoned theatre-goer, these are the moments that make a good panto amazing! 

Mick Potts as the Genie of the Lamp 

What can I even say about Mick Potts at this point? Every year he’s a highlight, and this year he somehow topped himself AGAIN! His Genie of the Lamp was part Christina Aguilera, part chaos, part fever dream, and part “how did we fall for that again?” 

Mick is, and always will be, a walking punchline, the MASTER of silent-but-deadly comedy - he can walk on stage, do absolutely nothing, and have the entire theatre crying with laughter. 

And let’s talk costumes. I’m fairly sure Mick had access to the entire panto costume archive this year. Full closet, full runway, full Fashion Week. And he wore every second of it. 

Rachel Stanley as the Wicked Witch of Wallsend 

Quite simply, a masterclass in baddie brilliance. Rachel’s stage presence is magnetic and she somehow manages to be terrifying and hilarious at the same time, feeding off the audience like she’s been doing this in her sleep for decades. Her interactions with the cast were chef’s kiss perfection. We just wish we had seen more of her! 

Billy-Kay as Princess Jemima 

A huge shoutout to Billy-Kay, who did a great job as Princess Jemima. I say this knowing exactly how difficult it must be standing alongside the likes of Danny and Joe and still carving out your own moments, but she did exactly that. 

Chris Hayward as Mother Goose 

If you ever find yourself needing a reminder of why Chris Hayward is one of the best in the business, this show will do it – he really is at home on the Theatre Royal stage and you can just see and feel it! His Mother Goose costume moments were nothing short of spectacular. In fact, I’m convinced Chris had more costume changes than lines this year and honestly? I wasn’t mad about it. 

The wardrobe team deserve a standing ovation of their own. The detail, the sparkle, the scale - every outfit was a visual feast… except perhaps the bedroom scene! 

So… is it Aladdin? 

Yes. Kind of. In the same way a Terry’s Chocolate Orange is technically a healthy fruit snack if you squint hard enough. 

If you’re going for a faithful retelling of Aladdin, you might leave feeling slightly confused. You definitely won’t disappointed or underwhelmed but just be aware that the story took a slight detour through 20 years of wonderful Theatre Royal panto history. Imagine it less as “a tale of a boy and his lamp” and more as “20 years of the panto family throwing the biggest party imaginable.” Packed with callbacks to previous shows, celebrity cameos, props that still haunt us, jokes that only get funnier with time, and of course… foam and water. So much water. You will get wet. Some traditions can’t be messed with. 

And yes - once again - this is definitely, absolutely, maybe, probably Clive Webb’s final year. (Just like it has been for the last 20 years.) 

Final Thoughts 

Your cheeks will hurt from laughing. Your clothes will probably dry out by next Tuesday. Your heart will be full. And really, what more could you want from a panto? 

Aladdin runs at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Sunday 18th January 2026. Tickets are priced from £14 and can be booked via the Theatre Royal website.