Dick Whittington

I visited Parish Players for their annual winter pantomime, a regular fixture in the group’s calendar, and it was a pleasure as always to attend. The hall was already busy when I arrived, and the production clearly drew a solid local turnout. There was a noticeable buzz of excitement, helped along by plenty of children in the audience.

Dick Whittington is the well‑known tale of a poor country boy who travels to London in the hope of finding a better life. Drawn by stories of streets “paved with gold,” he soon discovers that the city is far less welcoming than he imagined, yet his determination — and the unlikely help of a remarkable cat — set him on a path toward opportunity, adventure, and eventual success. It remains one of the most enduring rags‑to‑riches stories in the pantomime tradition.

Caroline and Maggi Chick deserve real credit for the time and care invested in shaping this production, which was evident in the confident pacing and the well‑prepared cast they put on stage. Their staging was lively throughout, making good use of the space and keeping the action moving without feeling rushed. The overall effect was colourful, engaging, and consistently entertaining, reflecting a steady hand and plenty of thoughtful work behind the scenes.

Amy Jo Blackwell, supported by Nick Roberts, delivered a well‑balanced musical set that offered plenty of variety throughout the show. The accompaniment was consistently strong and supportive, giving the cast a solid foundation, and the lead vocals were confidently handled across the board.

Danni Matsell put together choreography that worked well across a clear range of abilities, giving everyone something they could handle confidently. The movement had good variety throughout, keeping the numbers lively and adding plenty of visual interest without ever feeling overcomplicated.

Ellie Roberts gave a confident and engaging performance as Dick Whittington, shaping the role with an easy connection to the audience. Her vocals were strong throughout, and she carried the character with a warmth and clarity that anchored the show effectively.

Phoebe Spragg brought Tom the Cat to life with expressive physical movement that carried much of the character’s humour and personality. She developed the role clearly without relying on many spoken lines, using gesture, timing and presence to keep the character engaging throughout.

What is a pantomime without a loveable dame? David Brown’sDame Dolly Dumplings was a clear audience favourite, full of strong rapport and easy humour from the moment he (or should I say she) arrived on stage. David’s physicality and facial expressions were spot‑on and he kept the audience with him every step of the way.

If a pantomime demands a dame, then it certainly needs an evil villain! Paul Mannix delivered a truly mean and gleefully nasty King Rat that the audience relished booing. He interacted with the audience at every opportunity and his strong presence resulted in an excellent performance that hit exactly the right tone for the role.

Emily Smith gave a warm and engaging performance as Alice Fitzwarren, using clear facial expression and confident physical acting to shape the character. Her vocals were strong throughout, and she interacted naturally with the rest of the cast.

Richard Warner gave a solid and assured performance as Alderman Fitzwarren, delivering his lines with a clear, steady voice and strong, grounded acting throughout. He handled the role with confidence and ease, bringing a calm authority that balanced the more energetic characters around him.

Viki Gyorgyikova delivered a lively and good‑humoured performance as Idle Jack, leaning fully into the character’s overly simple nature with plenty of silliness and well‑timed bad puns. Her vocals were strong throughout, and she kept the energy high whenever she appeared, working the audience with confidence and getting them involved at every opportunity.

Jane Jones delivered a confident and clear performance as Fairy Bowbells, handling the rhyming dialogue with ease and keeping it flowing naturally. She brought a steady, assured presence to the role, guiding the story along with warmth and control.

Richard Broughton brought plenty of fun to Captain Cuttlefish, playing his part in the comedy duo with an easy sense of timing and a steady stream of foolishness and jokes. He kept the mood light throughout, adding further humour and energy to the pantomime.

Neil Hellard made a strong contribution as Scupper, playing the other half of the comedy duo with easy timing and a steady stream of playful humour. He worked very well alongside Captain Cuttlefish, keeping the jokes flowing and adding a light, energetic touch whenever the pair appeared onstage.

Mike Norman‑Smith made a brief but enjoyable cameo as the Sultan, and helped to guide events towards a suitably happy pantomime ending. A relatively small but vital contribution to the overall storyline and enjoyment of the production.

Arabella Hamilton, Chloe Hopkins, Felix May, Ethan Meade and Imogen Parry made for delightful Ratlings handling their spoken lines clearly and keeping their movement well-coordinated. They stayed focused throughout and added a lively touch whenever they appeared. A special mention must be given to Ailish and Willa Chick who, as Little Ratlings, proved that it’s never too early to appear onstage!

Caryl Court, Kingsley Hamilton, Sally Hopkins, Luci May, Ben Miles, Will Parry, Clare Quinn, Amanda Roberts, Debbie Webband Ros Wills provided steady support throughout with vocals that carried well across the hall. Their dance work was neat and well‑timed, giving the larger numbers plenty of energy.

Duncan Hay kept everything running smoothly as Stage Manager ensuring scene changes and backstage coordination was handled efficiently and with minimal fuss. His steady organisation ensured the production stayed tight and well‑paced.

Jen Donovan and Chris Abbott (set design) together with Roger Birtles, Jen Donovan, Duncan Hay, Peri Kennedy, Maria Milner, Barbara Moreland, Phoenix Quinn, Pete Ranford, Alison Raffan, Peter Smith and John Wood (set construction and stage crew) are all to be mentioned here for their time and effort in supporting this production.

Maggi Chick, Toni Conyers, Caryl Court and Cheryl Lawrence combined to deliver a colourful and well‑judged wardrobe that supported every character beautifully. Their work added visual flair to the show and helped define the world of the pantomime with consistency and care.

Katharine Gout, Hannah Alack McKay and Georgina Moore provided a range of props that enhanced each scene without distraction. Their attention to detail helped ground the action and kept the storytelling clear.

Kitty Quinn, Nick Vaughan‑Barratt, Andy Wood, Nick Roberts and Sebastian Roberts worked effectively together to provide lighting and sound support ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout.

Congratulations once again to everyone at Parish Players and those directly involved with Dick Whittington. I look forward to visiting again in 2026 and wish the society good luck in your forthcoming production of Calendar Girls.

Des Wilby

Regional Representative

NODA London District 5