The Amazing Adventures of Dick Whittington
- Kate Goerner
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
David Phipps Davis
Regal Entertainments
St Helens Theatre Royal
November 28, 2025-January 11, 2026; 2hrs 15mins
In what could be described as a Greatest Hits of recent St Helens pantomime casting, this year’s Dick Whittington is billed as Regal Entertainment’s "biggest production yet"; certainly it’s the first time the team has brought this particular title to the stage, so hopes gave been high.
And packed with sparkle, heart and a cast hell-bent on making sure a packed crowd is entertained, Dick Whittington proves to fulfil its promise; it's a spectacular festive production that includes snow, bubbles, supersoakers and even "rat poo"!
We watched the third show of the day but there was no sign of fatigue from a brilliant cast packed with familiar faces from the Theatre Royal stable of performers.
Matthew Wolfenden left the Yorkshire Dales of Emmerdale to take the title role of Dick and brings good-humoured charm – plus a nice singing voice – to the title role. He has easy chemistry with Chantelle Morgan, who makes a welcome return - following her lead role in Snow White last Christmas - to play Alice Fitzwarren.
There really could be no one other than Lewis Devine in the role of Idle Jack. Devine has made the comedy role at St Helens his own in recent years and is a clear audience favourite. His cheeky personality is an instant hit with young and old and his willingness to send himself up and wear a range of absurd costumes leads to much hilarity.
At one point Devine directed a camera into the auditorium to beam images of audience members on to a big screen on stage. I can report this blushing reviewer was featured, much to the mirth of the younger members of our party.
The scene-stealing Tim Lucas returns to St Helens following a couple of years further afield in other pantos and the tour of Bill Kenwright’s iconic musical Blood Brothers. As his King Rat emerged from below the stage, Lucas had a dramatic entrance worthy of his return to the Theatre Royal. It's a joy to have him back; let’s hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of him at the Theatre Royal as he really does bring something special to the mix.
Another Regal regular, Rachel Wood, showed off powerful vocals as Fairy Bowbells, including leading the stunning transformation scene that closed Act 1, while Jenna Sian O’Hara is a purrfectly sassy Tommi the Cat.
Special mention has to go to Richard Aucott, who returns as Dame, wowing us with a procession of witty costumes (many of which he makes himself). Our fave was the jaunty number adorned with pies and pasties – a suitably northern touch to this most northern of pantos.
If you’re not au fait with current popular trends such as Jet2 Holidays and 6/7 memes, Italian Brain Rot jargon or K-Pop Demon Hunters, then you might be left slightly baffled at some points; but the pre-teens in the audience were thrilled and in repeated hysterics throughout. My 10-year-old son was crying with laughter at one particular Oasis-inspired gag.
The songs are the usual bonkers mix of pop and musicals, and while there are no juvenile dancers to "ahhhhh" at, senior dancers Dominc Charles and Will Loader, alongside an ensemble from Dynamix Performing Arts College, are a pleasure to watch – the "Jellical Ball" Cats V Rats battle on board the Good Ship Lollipop was a highlight. There’s even a clever underwater 3D sequence to give a little extra wow factor to Act 2.
This is a five-star, glitter-bomb of a show at commendably affordable prices. It runs until January 11 and is well worth the trip to St Helens to see a fabulous cast in action.
