Goldilocks The Ballet

This was my first visit to the Kenton to review a show, although I’ve performed there in the past in one act play festivals. It’s a beautiful theatre, and Henley and its surrounds are lucky to have this little treasure.

This charming ballet is touring at the moment, and is the perfect way of introducing small children to ballet.  At just over 40 minutes in length, it has the right mix of story, fun, and audience participation, all stirred up with plenty of joy!

We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but here, we have it set in the 1940s complete with gingham, bunting, music hall and ragtime music, including ‘Daisy Daisy’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again’. We meet Goldilocks, danced beautifully by Holly Moon-Griffith, supported by Mummy, Daddy and Baby Bear, danced by Melanie Cox, Jack Pallister and Hannah Smith. Jack is also the show’s choreographer. All four are delightful, and inject such character and fun into their characterisations. This is all rounded off by James Aiden Kay as Selfish Sid.

As well as ballet, there is a lovely tap routine from Mummy and Daddy Bear, and some slapstick comedy.

The dancers are also costumed just right. Goldilocks in yellow gingham, with bright cerise pink shoes and ribbon, and the bears are not cuddly furry bears, but cheery humanised bears. There is a big jar of honey, which Selfish Sid is trying to steal from Goldilocks, and she hides in the bear home helping herself to their porridge, breaking a chair, and falling asleep in Baby Bear’s bed.

Between Jack Pallister’s choreography and Orit Sutton’s artistic direction, there is so much care and attention in producing a show that is perfectly pitched. I went during the Easter holidays and the audience included plenty of pre-schoolers, and primary school aged children with their parents and grandparents. There was absolute joy on the faces of the children!

A really nice touch at the start was teaching the audience some mime, and after the curtain call, inviting any youngsters who wanted to, to have a photo with the dancers.

I really enjoyed this show. But more importantly, the enraptured faces of the youngsters in the audience showed they did too!

This show was reviewed at Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames on the 8th April 2024.  Full touring locations can be found here: Goldilocks - Lets All Dance (lets-all-dance.co.uk)

Review written by Ruth Hawkins

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