Stephen Leslie Productions presents The Secret That Saved Christmas at the Hampton Hill Theatre. Marketed as a ‘heart-warming story celebrating friendship, courage and teamwork’ this musical has most of the makings of a lovely local Christmas show and just lacks that ‘wow factor’ you might miss.

Rory Cubin’s choreography is good but unremarkable, which is almost more disappointing than being bland or boring, as they have such an amazing space to work with and the numbers never really fill the stage.

The same can be said for Hannah Calarco’s set design, as it is very warm and wintery but doesn’t particularly add any creative value to the piece. Again, this could easily have been more expansive and exciting - just like George Sellis’ lighting which utilised every inch available. On the other hand, there are upsides to be considered here; the absence of any scenery (so to speak) provides a consistency in visual stimulation - or noticeable lack thereof - so the children can focus on the characters and plot instead. This may work well for little ones who are more easily distracted or sensory avoidant. 

This sense of relaxed atmosphere was present throughout, and offered a welcome change from the buzzing air of hyperactivity you often feel at mainstream commercial pantomimes at this time of year. If a calmer and quieter visit to the theatre is more your cup of tea than anything too upbeat or sparkly then this one is for you! Be Warned: this doesn't mean there's no audience participation…

The vibrancy in both energy and colour comes from the costumes (by Margaret Wrightson & Lesley Alexander). While these are not the most professionally made pieces, nor do they have the biggest and boldest props to accompany, they were simply fun and didn’t need any glitz or glamour to work well. 

It is not a classic tale of any kind, but does bear resemblance to typical children's books where we follow the protagonist on an adventure, overcoming the trials and tribulations with them. This is mirrored beautifully in the poster for the show, as it tells you exactly what to expect in terms of size and scale as well as the nature of the story. The script by Ken Mason* appears slightly disjointed at times, however the younger audience members don’t seem to notice at all, and any older children may enjoy the frequent singing numbers enough to let the sometimes silly story slide. 

*Additional pages by David Kerby-Kendall

As there is an incredibly small cast, no one really stands out among the group, but they all work well together and, as a team, have the shared qualities needed for a production of this kind. Jasmine Thomas acts as our leading lady, with brilliant physical skills and projection far more advanced than required. Georgia Maclennan has hilarious characterisation and truly encapsulates the ‘quirky sidekick’ trope. Jack Dorning is the only multi-roller and you can see why - his vocal techniques and array of tones lend themselves brilliantly to this wide variety of demands in such a short time. 

Although it would be great for the 3 performers to offer all of these attributes simultaneously, The Secret That Saved Christmas remains a nice time out for Fulwell Families, meaning that carers of little ones don't have to travel into the city centre to find festive fun. 

This show was reviewed on the 13th December 2024 at the Hampton Hill Theatre where it runs until the 24th December 2024.  Tickets available here: The Secret that Saved Christmas | Hampton Hill Theatre

Review written by Katie Anna McConnell

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