7 reasons to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Theatre Royal St Helens

It’s got a reputation for being one of the best pantos in the north west – and the Theatre Royal in St Helens has smashed it again with this year’s Panto

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is on at St Helens Theatre Royal now until 12 January 2025.

Director and theatre manager Chantelle Nolan is delighted with the amazing reviews already coming in just days after it launched.

“I’m thrilled with the show,” says Chantelle. “I don’t know how we do it but every year, like people are saying, it just gets better and better. And that’s our aim.

“Snow White is a very traditional panto with a real story to tell that kids know, and we tell it in a fresh way and with all those elements of surprise and magic.”

Chantelle adds: “I love listening to people as they go out of the theatre, and everything has been positive so far.”

And if that doesn’t convince you to get your seat booked, these seven reasons to see it definitely will.

Snow White - St Helens Theatre Royal — Credit: David Munn

Dame dynamite

Richard Aucott is back as the dame and his character Nurse Nelly prescribes a shed load of laughs with a cracking delivery of double entendre – a must in any panto – and he rocks the most amazing costumes.

Pop royalty

Nolan sister Maureen is the Wicked Queen and while she might not get you in the mood for dancing with her dastardly performance as the panto baddie, she’ll definitely get you booing and hissing. Maureen’s a member of the legendary Nolans girl group who took the UK by storm long before the Spice Girls were even Wannabes and she’s appeared on stage with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Motorhead.

Dwarfs are giants of charity

The seven dwarfs are voiced by a collection of local legends: Johnny Vegas, Pete Price, Joel Ross, Philip Regan (Queen of Scottie Road), Craig Philips, Louise Emerick and John May, who have all donated their fees to their chosen charities including The Honey Rose Foundation, Zoe’s Place, The Rotunda, and Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

Musical magic

You’ll be tapping your feet and clapping your hands from the moment the cast bursts on stage, opening with a medley of lively numbers like Walking on Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, and Don’t Blame It On The Boogie. Add a bit of Taylor Swift – Love Story – and more along the way and you can’t go wrong, especially when the stars bring everything to life with great high-energy dance routines.

Corrie cracker

Actor, singer, dancer and film-maker Emrhys Cooper pays the foppish Prince Frederick who sings a superb duet of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die with a Smile with Snow White (played beautifully by Chantelle Morgan). Emrhys, who plays cult leader Rowan Cunliffe in Coronation Street, performs a cracking version of Queen’s Somebody to Love with some incredible dance moves. Chantelle admits: “He’s everything you want in a panto prince to be. He’s over the top, he’s got a cheeky grin, he can sing and he’s an amazing dancer – and he’s so handsome!”

Comedy gold

Like all pantos it’s jam-packed with topical gags – there’s even a nod to Baby Reindeer – but if anything is going to have you doubled up in your seat it’s Lewis Devine’s performance as Muddles. As always madcap Muddles has the audience eating out of his hand with an energetic, slapstick performance and comic-timing par excellence. Supercharged and always electric.

Lead cast in Snow White - Credit David Munn Photography — Lead cast in Snow White – Credit David Munn Photography

Fab costumes and scenery

You can always expect fabulously colourful costumes and more sparkle than the Strictly glitter-ball, but this year the Theatre Royal has excelled itself with new costumes and stunning scenery that’ll transport you right to the very heart of pantoland.

With stunning effects, adorable pooches from canine performers Doggie Delights, a dazzling appearance from Leanne Campbell who returns in digital form as the Magic Mirror, and so much more, this is one Panto you cannot miss.