Beauty and the Beast
- Richard Evans
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
Anne Odeke
Storyhouse Originals
Storyhouse Chester
December 10-January 4, 2026; 2hr 20 mins
Would the audience be howling with delight - or wilting like a rose - at Storyhouse’s Christmas show, Beauty and the Beast? There's plenty to engage the audience from the first moment Fairy Lavender (Emmy Stonelake) bursts on to the stage with South Walian enthusiasm.
The story of Beauty and the Beast has attained a measure of precedence among other fairy tales owing to its exposure in film, cartoons and other media; it likely ranks among many people's favourite childhood stories.Â
This hasn't stopped writer Anne Clarke playing around with it, to put a Storyhouse spin on things. Most notably, the supposedly-evil Nightshade turns out to be the younger sister of Fairy Lavender, and Pierre gets a love match too - with Belle's "Best Friend Forever", Amelie. This tinkering doesn't prevent this being an absorbing show that holds the attention of young and old throughout.
There are some lovely moments as the story unfolds. There's a striking end to the first act, when Pierre (Pranav Viswanathan), in a gorgeously arrogant manner, rouses the rabble of villagers to kill the beast and find Belle; and the chemistry between the Beast (Daniel Bowskill, who has a great voice) and Belle (Katerina Zofia) is based on having fun together, which adds a lightness and warmth to the show. But it is Nightshade (Miriam O’Brien) who steals the show. She is super-scary and venomous - until her sister apologises for planting her face in a birthday cake. Then they hug... Â
There is a togetherness and mutual appreciation and the cast members work well as a team to tell the story. For me this is the most important part of the evening. In some pantomimes the story is almost incidental and used as a vehicle to display comic talents in preplanned routines, often featuring the show's star-name. There are plenty of pantomime elements in this version of Beauty, and loads of audience participation, but it's great to see focus pulled to the actual story - and to see it communicated really well.
While this is a fairy tale, there has always been a bit more depth to Beauty and the Beast. You would want to teach any child that their character, rather than their appearance, is what makes them beautiful or handsome, and that arrogance in the physically attractive detracts from that beauty. The departures here from the original downplay this aspect of the story – indeed it is restated in Belle’s monologue in the second act. But this version makes much of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation and doesn't demonise anyone for having unappealing character traits. Such themes are highly appropriate for the Christmas season; it never hurts to remind ourselves of such things.
The question, though, is this: is this Beauty and the Beast a good night's entertainment? The warmth and excitement shown towards it by the audience suggests it certainly is.
More info and tickets here
