A TOWERING TRIUMPH: BURNLEY PANTOMIME SOCIETY'S RAPUNZEL DELIGHTS FROM START TO FINISH

I should probably begin by confessing that I have something of a long-standing "panto phobia", a deeply rooted affliction stemming from a childhood mishap involving a missing ice cream on a school trip. After sneaking off to the tuck shop under the pretence of a toilet break, I was making my triumphant return, ice cream in hand, when fate intervened. I was under the spotlight, caught quite literally red-handed, and publicly exposed before I'd even had a single bite.

I clung to that aversion for many years, right up until my goddaughters took to the stage in a pantomime. Watching them perform left me with little choice but to face my long-held fear, and in doing so, I discovered just how much magic I had been missing all those years.

About The Burnley Pantomime Society

It’s impressive to reflect on how far the society has come since it all began in 1978, when founder Hazel Hodder and co staged their very first production of Cinderella. That same passion and community spirit still shines through today. 

The society has cultivated a genuine family atmosphere, with many of its volunteer cast having been involved for years, in some cases, across several generations of the same family. This continuity is reflected in the wonderful chemistry they share on stage, while their ongoing commitment to welcoming and nurturing younger members into more prominent roles ensures the company remains vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Over the years, the society has won a number of awards, including Most Creative Pantomime and Best Direction and those accolades are clearly reflected in the imaginative staging, slick pacing and confident performances.

Review Burnley Pantomime Society's Rapunzel

As the curtain rose, the cast set the pace and tone with a joyous rendition of “Absolutely Everybody” that had the crowd singing along and excited for what was ahead. And wow, were we in for a treat.

Rapunzel had everything you could want from a pantomime: the principal cast and the chorus are a glorious volunteer cast alongside the professional dance group, Lynn McCheyne dancers. All working together, putting in months of work to not only create something to bring joy to our community, but also raise money and boy do they deliver.

Directed by Kevin Kay and Jessica Whittaker, the production shone, with an inspired selection of tracks to set the scene and reach an audience of all ages. The staging and set were the perfect backdrop to support and tell the story, and the costumes were of a standard you would expect of a professional production.

It has the perfect balance of tongue-in-cheek moments just for the adults, which also had the kids howling with laughter for very different reasons. All the characters shone, and the chorus and dancers brought joy to each and every number. Rapunzel (Laura Kay), Wanda the Good (Kayleigh Hindle), and Fin Ryder (Mark Tranmer) were the perfect heroes/heroines. Complemented by the brilliantly evil Floella (Rebecca Wright), to bring Rapunzel back to the Queen (Louise Young).

The panto delivered comedy in bundles with Dame Netty Hairspray (Kevin Kay), Silly Billy (Liam Husband), Snitch and Snatch (Rachel Kay & Amy Foulds) and the hilarious Sylvester Stallion (Bethan Rigby), who at times stole the show. I can’t get The Pink Pony Club out of my mind.

Burnley Pantomime Society’s Rapunzel is a joyous, crowd-pleasing production that perfectly showcases why this company has earned such a strong reputation over the years. Bursting with colour, energy and laugh-out-loud moments, the show blends classic pantomime traditions with fresh ideas, making it the perfect antidote to the January blues and keeping both younger audience members and seasoned theatre-goers thoroughly entertained. The fantastic costumes add an extra layer of sparkle,  bringing the fairy-tale world vividly to life. 

The creativity on display is no surprise. throughout Rapunzel. Every scene feels carefully crafted, yet never loses the warmth and fun that make pantomime so special. 

How Can You Support The Pantomime And Their Mission

The society’s commitment to giving back is evident, with charity buckets at the end of each performance to raise funds for Pendleside Hospice and Elsie’s story, adding an extra reason to support this wonderful production. 

For fans and supporters, it’s also worth keeping an eye on Burnley Pantomime Society’s Facebook page, where there are some exciting announcements expected as they build towards their 50th anniversary year. If Rapunzel is anything to go by, the future looks just as bright as their glittering past. 

You can get tickets here, but be quick, they are running out fast.

We were invited to the panto; however, reviewing was optional. But have also bought tickets for another performance to see it all again. We all need a little joy like this on these dark January days.

Put together by Caroline Beresford and Sarah Christie

The post A Towering Triumph: Burnley Pantomime Society's Rapunzel Delights from Start to Finish appeared first on Extraordinary Chaos.

2026-01-10T11:48:15Z