REVIEW: Mother Goose at The Bristol Hippodrome

Now as far as Pantos go, you know what to expect. “He’s behind you”... “Ohhhh no, he isn’t”... etc…

As adults, you mostly accompany the kids and have mid to low expectations of being properly entertained for yourselves. 

Enter Mother Goose - an Easter Pantomime starring in the title role, Hollywood royalty, multi-award winning theatrical legend, LGBTQ+ activist, and TWICE knighted… Sir Ian McKellen! 

Yes, that's right… Gandalf himself!

Supported by an equally high-quality cast, including comedy legend John Bishop (Playing Mother Goose’s husband), Anna-Jane Casey as Cilla the Goose, and Adam Brown as Goat, you know you’re in for a stellar production.

Mother Goose carries all of the traditional Panto features and ticks all the boxes for the kids but is also packed with double-entendres that would break even the most serious adult into fits of giggles. It’s very smutty but in the best way and goes straight over the kids' heads, so there is no need to feel guilty for giggling along with the Carry-on-esque humour as it’s nothing short of infectious. 

It’s mindblowing to see McKellen in a role such as this, and it only cements his utter acting genius when it comes to range. He is saucy, super cheeky, and knows exactly what he's doing. He might be 83, but he still has the audience in the palm of his rainbow-painted, diamond-clad hands. The adults will appreciate the LOTR references, along with the Shakespearean sonnets from King Lear (it was very unexpected but beautiful to watch) and the nods to other famous musicals along the way, such as Les Mis, Funny Girl, and Cats. There are also lots of current political references sprinkled in for good measure, and DON’T mention THE ENERGY COMPANY!!!!

The songs are all popular hits from throughout the decades, and you even get a sing-along to Sweet Caroline at the end with a goosy twist. This show is bright, colourful, action-packed, and easy to follow for all ages. There really is something for everyone in this show, and you can see why it cleaned up at the recent Pantomime awards. 

This is quite literally the gold standard for Pantos, and others will find it hard to match its creative genius to capture the hearts and imaginations of all ages. 

If you get the chance, go and see this 100%! The tickets might be a bit pricier than other Pantos, but it’s worth every penny and leaves many other productions of the same genre in its wake. And frankly, when else are you going to get a chance to spend time in the same room as Gandalf!!!! 

I would watch this a hundred times over (with or without kids), and my face ached at the end from laughing so much. If you get the chance… go!

Mother Goose is showing from 12-16th April 2023 at Bristol Hippodrome. Sign up HERE for updates on future dates and info.

Written by Mama Massive

You can find her on Instagram at @mama.massive or reach her at www.mamamassive.co.uk.

Laura is a highly experienced Blogger, Copywriter, Content Creator, and Marketing Manager based on the outskirts of Bristol / North Somerset where she lives with her partner, daughter, and cats.

She has over a decades worth of experience within the world of social media, advertising, and marketing in both a corporate and freelance capacity having worked across a multitude of industries including music, construction, and leisure. She currently also runs her own successful blog / Instagram where she covers topics such as parenthood, lifestyle, and reviews of both products and places.

Laura applies a creative flair and strategy to whatever she does and has an extensive portfolio of creative work backed by data-driven results.

When Laura isn't working, she likes to spend her time at the theatre, listening to true crime podcasts, or doing her favourite thing in the world... sleeping.